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Show Me The Way
Life does not always take us along an easy path. There are times when problems, disappointments, and uncertainty leave us wondering which direction to take. In Show Me The Way, Ella Wheeler Wilcox expresses a desire many of us can understand: the desire to be shown a better way through life's difficulties.
Rather than asking for a life without challenges, Wilcox asks for courage and strength to rise above them. She seeks a higher way of living, one that is not controlled by sorrow, temporary pleasures, or the troubles that come and go. Her words remind us that true peace begins within and that difficult circumstances do not have to determine our outlook.
This inspiring poem can also be read as a prayer for direction. When we cannot see the way forward on our own, we can ask God for guidance, strength, and wisdom. Wilcox's repeated words, "Show me the way," offer a simple reminder that even when the journey is difficult, we can continue seeking a life of greater peace and purpose.
Updated September 18, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Show Me The Way
Poet: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Show me the way that leads to the true life.
I do not care what tempests may assail me,
I shall be given courage for the strife,
I know my strength will not desert or fail me;
I know that I shall conquer in the fray:
Show me the way.
Show me the way up to a higher plane,
Where body shall be servant to the soul.
I do not care what tides of woe, or pain,
Across my life their angry waves may roll
If I but reach the end I seek some day:
Show me the way.
Show me the way, and let me bravely climb
Above vain grievings for unworthy treasures;
Above all sorrow that finds balm in time —
Above small triumphs, or belittling pleasures;
Up to those heights where these things seem child's play:
Show me the way.
Show me the way to that calm, perfect peace
Which springs from an inward consciousness of right;
To where all conflicts with the flesh shall cease,
And self shall radiate with the spirit's light.
Though hard the journey and the strife, I pray
Show me the way.
Key Reflections In This Poem
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Ask For Direction When The Way Is Unclear
There are times when we simply do not know which direction to take. Wilcox's repeated request to be shown the way reminds us that we do not have to have every answer before moving forward.
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Courage Does Not Require An Easy Life
The poet does not ask to escape every hardship. Instead, she seeks the courage and strength to continue even when sorrow, pain, and difficulty become part of her journey.
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Look Beyond Temporary Troubles
Problems can seem overwhelming when we are in the middle of them, but they do not have to control our lives. Wilcox encourages us to rise above temporary concerns and seek something greater.
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True Peace Goes Deeper Than Our Circumstances
The final stanza points toward a calm and lasting peace that is deeper than our circumstances. It reminds us that peace can be found even when the road we are travelling is difficult.
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Conclusion
Show Me The Way reminds us that we do not need to ask for a life without difficulties. Instead, we can seek the strength, courage, and guidance needed to rise above them. Wilcox's words encourage us to keep looking toward a higher and more peaceful way of living.
Her repeated request, "Show me the way," is one that many of us can make our own. When the path ahead seems uncertain, prayer can help us seek God's direction and trust that there is still a way forward, even when we cannot yet see it.
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