The Beautiful Garden of Prayer: Songs from the House of My Sojourning
Tears stung my eyes, and gravel crunched beneath my feet as I quickly stole along the path. I swiped my tears on my sleeve, as I hurried down the twisting path toward our secret garden. I had to see Him. I had to talk to Him. I rounded the curve leading toward the garden gate. It was closed, yet a soft light glowed within—He was there. I paused in the shadows—waiting.
Then I saw Him! He swung open the gate, smiling toward me, where I waited in the shadows. I exhaled; He saw me. He stood in the gateway, a smile dancing in his eyes as he beckoned me into our secret garden. I rushed breathlessly toward Him and was immediately in His arms. He crushed me to Him. I was trembling, weeping into the hollow of His neck. His hair fell softly against my cheek.
His arm encircled me as He urged me into a quiet nook of our secret garden. He enfolded me in His robe as I leaned against His chest. He waited for me to speak. I told Him of the pain behind my tears; He told me again and again of His undying love for me. There in the quiet nook of our secret garden, I unloaded my burdens and lifted my broken heart to His healing balm. There in our secret garden of prayer, my Jesus and I conversed as friend with Friend.
The hymn, The Beautiful Garden of Prayer, nearly trembles with anticipation for our meeting with our Friend, the Ancient of Days, in this secret garden of prayer. This garden is a holy place, made holy by His presence. There is no hint of duty or drudgery, just a quiet anticipation of a pleasant occasion. Why would we not eagerly anticipate a quiet talk with our Friend, especially when this Friend is also the God of Angel Armies?
I often sang this hymn over my boys, and I did so mostly in the early afternoon or in the evenings. Each time I sang it, once again, I passed through that proverbial garden gate. He was always there, waiting for me. He was always delighted with my arrival. In my weariness and heaviness of soul, it seemed I ran stumbling and tearful into His waiting arms. He was never cross or impatient with me, my tears, or my questions. I found that He was full of compassion, abounding in mercy and lovingkindness just as His word declared. He reassured me through His word that I was indeed on the right path, that He would never leave me, no matter how difficult the road. He urged me again and again to trust Him, and repeatedly demonstrated that He was worthy of my complete trust.
There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
There’s a place that is wondrously fair,
For it glows with the light of His presence
’Tis that beautiful garden of prayer.
O the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,
O the beautiful garden of prayer!
There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.
There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And I go, with my burden and care,
Just to learn from His lips words of comfort
In the beautiful garden of prayer.
Why would I ever miss the opportunity to meet with the God of All Creation through a quiet conversation in prayer? What could be more pressing than stilling my frenzied soul before the Ancient of Days?
There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And He bids you to come meet Him there,
Just to bow and receive a new blessing
In the beautiful garden of prayer.
The beautiful truth is that this lovely relationship we share in this garden of prayer is extended to all who will come to Him. There, He longs to bestow upon us His best gifts and blessings, and draw us into intimate friendship with Himself. There, we bow before Him as He speaks truth and guidance, reassures us of His love, compassion, and lovingkindness. He assures us that He will never leave us, no matter how difficult the journey. He will walk with us through each day, whether fraught with mundane chores or heartbreaking trials.
The wonderful reality is that He waits for you at that garden gate, a smile dancing in His eyes as He beckons you from the shadows, and into the glowing light of His presence in the beautiful garden of prayer.