Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 100

Thrice comfortable hope, That calms my troubled breast; My Father's hand prepares the cup And what he wills is best.

If what I wish is good, And suits the will divine, By earth and h.e.l.l in vain withstood, I know it shall be mine.

Still let them counsel take To frustrate his decree; They cannot keep a blessing back, By heaven designed for me.

Here, then, I doubt no more; But in his pleasure rest Whose wisdom, love, and truth, and power, Engage to make me blest.

--Charles Wesley.

G.o.d NEVER FORSAKES

Leave G.o.d to order all thy ways, And hope in him, whate'er betide, Thou'lt find in him, in evil days, Thy all-sufficient strength and guide.

Who trusts in G.o.d's unchanging love Builds on the rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail, The never-ceasing moans and sighs?

What can it help us to bewail Each painful moment as it flies?

Our cross and trials do but press The heavier for our bitterness.

Only thy restless heart keep still, And wait in cheerful hope, content To take whate'er his gracious will, His all-discerning love, hath sent.

Nor doubt our inmost wants are known To him who chose us for his own.

He knows when joyful hours are best; He sends them as he sees it meet; When thou hast borne the fiery test, And now art freed from all deceit, He comes to thee all unaware And makes thee own his loving care.

Nor in the heat of pain and strife Think G.o.d has cast thee off unheard, And that the man whose prosperous life Thou enviest is of him preferred.

Time pa.s.ses, and much change doth bring And sets a bound to everything.

All are alike before his face; 'Tis easy to our G.o.d most high To make the rich man poor and base, To give the poor man wealth and joy; True wonders still by him are wrought Who setteth up and brings to naught.

Sing, pray, and swerve not from his ways, But do thine own part faithfully; Trust his rich promises of grace, So shall they be fulfilled in thee.

G.o.d never yet forsook at need The soul that trusted him indeed.

--George Neumarck.

Bear up, bear on, the end shall tell The dear Lord ordereth all things well.

--John Greenleaf Whittier.

THE SECRET PLACE

There is a safe and secret place, Beneath the wings divine, Reserved for all the heirs of grace: O be that refuge mine!

The least and feeblest there may bide, Uninjured and unawed; While thousands fall on every side, He rests secure in G.o.d.

He feeds in pastures large and fair Of love and trust divine; O child of G.o.d, O glory's heir, How rich a lot is thine!

A hand almighty to defend, An ear for every call, An honored life, a peaceful end, And heaven to crown it all!

--Henry F. Lyte.

G.o.d KNOWS

Our Father! through the coming year We know not what shall be; But we would leave without a fear Its ordering all to thee.

It may be we shall toil in vain For what the world holds fair; And all the good we thought to gain Deceive, and prove but care.

It may be it shall darkly blend Our love with anxious fears, And s.n.a.t.c.h away the valued friend, The tried of many years.

It may be it shall bring us days And nights of lingering pain; And bid us take a farewell gaze Of these loved haunts of men.

But calmly, Lord, on thee we rest; No fears our trust shall move; Thou knowest what for each is best, And thou art Perfect Love.

--Eliza Cleghorn Gaskell.

Forever in their Lord abiding Who can their gladness tell; Within his love forever hiding, They feel that all is well.

NO FEAR

I know no life divided, O Lord of life, from thee; In thee is life provided For all mankind and me: I know no death, O Jesus, Because I live in thee; Thy death it is which frees us From death eternally.

I fear no tribulation, Since, whatsoe'er it be, It makes no separation Between my Lord and me.

If thou, my G.o.d and Teacher, Vouchsafe to be my own, Though poor, I shall be richer Than monarch on his throne.

If while on earth I wander My heart is light and blest, Ah, what shall I be yonder, In perfect peace and rest?

O blessed thought! in dying We go to meet the Lord, Where there shall be no sighing, A kingdom our reward.

--Carl J. P. Spitta.

THE LORD'S APPOINTMENT

I say it over and over, and yet again to-day, It rests my heart as surely as it did yesterday: It is the Lord's appointment; Whatever my work may be, I am sure in my heart of hearts He has offered it to me.

I must say it over and over, and again to-day For my work is different from that of yesterday: It is the Lord's appointment; It quiets my restless will Like the voice of a tender mother, And my heart and will are still.

I will say it over and over, this and every day, Whatsoever the Master orders, come what may: It is the Lord's appointment; For only his love can see What is wisest, best and right-- What is truly good for me.

TRUST

I know not what the future holds, Of good or ill for me and mine; I only know that G.o.d enfolds Me in his loving arms divine.

So I shall walk the earth in trust That He who notes the sparrow's fall Will help me bear whate'er I must And lend an ear whene'er I call.