Let Nothing Disturb Thee — Teresa of Ávila's Bookmark Prayer

Let nothing disturb thee; Nothing affright thee; All things are passing; God never changeth; Patient endurance Attaineth to all things; Who God possesseth In nothing is wanting; Alone God sufficeth.

About This Prayer

These lines — "Nada te turbe" in the original Spanish — were found written on a slip of paper in the breviary (daily prayer book) of Teresa of Ávila after her death in 1582, which is why they are known as her "bookmark." She had carried them with her, a pocket-sized answer to fear. The English above is the classic translation by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, kept exactly as he wrote it.

In Plain Words

If you'd rather pray the same heart in your own words: God, don't let anything shake me or scare me today. Everything I'm worried about will pass — but You never change. Give me patience to hold on, because if I have You, I have everything I need.

A Verse to Hold On To

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." — Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)