At first I prayed for light:
Could I but see the way,
How glad­ly, swift­ly would I walk
To ev­er­last­ing day!

And next I prayed for strength:
That I might tread the road
With firm, un­fal­ter­ing feet, and win
The hea­vens’ se­rene abode.

And then I prayed for faith:
Could I but trust my God,
I’d live in­fold­ed in His peace,
Though foes were all abroad.

But now I pray for love:
Deep love to God and man;
A liv­ing love that will not fail,
However dark His plan.

And light and strength and faith
Are op­en­ing ev­ery­where!
God wait­ed pa­tient­ly un­til
I prayed the larg­er pray­er.