Whispered Prayer of the Hopeful
My God, if my hope in You has not been worthy, then by Your generosity restore me to the worthy. If sins have placed me at the gates of disgrace, then by Your forgiveness restore me to the gates of pardon. If my heart has been hardened by neglect, then by Your kindness soften it with mention of You. O He whose name is the cure, whose remembrance is the healing, and whose obedience is the wealth, have mercy on one whose only capital is hope, and whose only weapon is weeping. My God, do not cut off my hope from You, even when my deeds turn away from You. Do not let despair into my heart, for despair is the tool of the deceiver. Let hope be the breath I breathe with, until I meet You and find that my hope was not misplaced.
Despair is not humility, it is hidden arrogance, the assumption that our sin is greater than His mercy. The hopeful one bows lower.
When the inner voice says, 'It is too late,' answer back gently: 'Allah is more generous than my despair.' Repeat it until the voice quiets.