By Sr. Janelle Buettner, M.S.
Marian Sisters, Diocese of Lincoln
“The Knot Prayer”
Author Unknown
Dear God, Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart, and my life.
Remove the have nots, can nots, and the do nots.
Erase the will nots, the may nots, and might nots that may find a home in my heart.
Release me from the could nots, would nots, and should nots that obstruct my life.
And most of all, Dear God, I ask You remove from my mind, my heart, and my life, all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough. Amen.
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At times in my life (as I am sure happens to all of us) I find my stomach in a knot. I do not always know what the knot is from. When I cannot get to the source of the struggle, I often turn to this prayer, and it helps me get to the root. I am usually blocking myself from being fully loved by Jesus in that moment, and the ‘knot’ prayer has been powerful in helping me move forward.
One such time that I felt that knot was when I was asked by my superior to be a principal. I will never forget sitting in the superior’s office as she suggested the idea. I was so scared. I did not feel like I was qualified, and one of my first comments was: “I do not even know if I know what a principal does.” As a teacher, I spent time in my classroom with my students, but I did not really know what was happening in the front office. I certainly did not feel I was qualified or smart enough to do the job, and honestly, I was not excited to do it.
Now, as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, I reflect on my journey as a principal and assistant principal. I know there are times I fall short – not from lack of trying, but because of my humanity. In these moments, the knots return. However, I have learned that if I pray and surrender to God, I am comforted knowing that He is in charge. He takes care of everything.
Pope St. John XXIII was known for saying, “It’s your Church, Lord; I’m going to bed.” If a pope could say this (and become a saint), I can say it for our small schools here. And I often have. I entrust the students, families, faculty, and staff daily to Him. And I thank God daily that I can be of service to the Church in this way. But that does not mean that I am perfect. I often make mistakes and fall short. That is when the knots are the tightest.
So often, we feel that we are not smart enough, talented enough, qualified enough, or good enough. The world constantly demands more from us, and we feel we will never measure up. But the Lord does not see us this way. He sees us as more than enough. He created us in love, knitting us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) exactly as He intended. To say we are not good enough is to deny His perfect creation.
The knots in our lives come from wounds—those inflicted by others, and those we inflict on ourselves, the fears or choices that make us feel less than we are. If we are created by God, known by God, and loved by God, we can trust that He will care for us. Growing in that trust requires prayer, sacrifice and loving those around us. And when the knots return, I encourage you to turn to the Knot Prayer.
Think about what needs to be removed from your heart so you can see yourself through His eyes. It is in those moments of surrender that you will find peace and draw closer to Jesus. Tough times often reveal our real strength, which lies in trusting Him and recognizing that we are “good enough” just as we are.
When you feel the knots tighten, try the Knot Prayer. Reflect on the root of your struggle and place your trust in God’s love. Surrender it all to Him, and I promise, you will find peace.
