Poetry · Chapter
I Would I Were a Child explained
The speaker longs to return to a childlike faith and trust in God as Father, expressing a desire to be led through darkness and fear with simple reliance.
What happens
The speaker longs to return to a childlike faith and trust in God as Father, expressing a desire to be led through darkness and fear with simple reliance. Amidst weariness and doubt, the soul affirms its identity as God's child, crying out for awakening from the dream of sorrow and for the Father's tender strength.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Fatherhood
The central theme: the speaker repeatedly addresses God as Father, seeking childlike trust and claiming the identity of God's child.
Spiritual Struggle and Doubt
The speaker wrestles with darkness, weariness, and the sense of being haunted by lies, crying out for awakening from a dream of sorrow.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who yearns for childlike faith and addresses God as Father.
- God
Addressed as Father, the one who leads, keeps, and is asked to draw near.
- Jesus Christ
Implied as the one who taught to cry 'Our Father' and told the parable of the prodigal son.
Key passages
“I would I were a child, That I might look, and laugh, and say, My Father!”
I wish I were a child so I could simply look up, laugh, and call God my Father.
Expresses longing for innocent, direct faith.
“O soul, O soul, rejoice! Thou art God’s child indeed, for all thy sinning;”
Rejoice, my soul! Despite your sins, you are truly God's child.
Affirms identity as God's child despite sin.
“Father! I dare at length; My childhood sure will hold me free from blaming: Sinful yet hoping, I to thee come, claiming Thy tenderness, my strength.”
Father, I finally dare to call on you; my childlike faith will keep me from blame. Though sinful, I come in hope, claiming your tenderness as my strength.
Climactic cry of trust and surrender.