Afraid Quote by Wendell Berry
“Prayer is like lying awake at night, afraid, with your head under the cover, hearing only the beating of your own heart. It is like a bird that has blundered down the flue and is caught indoors and flutters at the windowpanes. It is like standing a long time on a cold day, knocking at a shut door.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Prayer” (collection of poems, 1970)
Prayer is a restless, intimate struggle with fear and longing, seeking connection amid isolation.
In simple terms: Prayer feels like anxious waiting.
Key Takeaway
Embrace vulnerability in seeking comfort.
Themes
faith
loneliness
hope
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
poetic
spiritual
When to use this quote
- nighttime anxiety
- seeking solace
- inner dialogue
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
spiritual yearning
existential anxiety
Questions to Reflect On
- What fears surface in your quiet moments?
- How does vulnerability shape your faith?
A Different Perspective
Prayer may not resolve practical problems, only offer emotional space.
