I Pray for You by Emily Stuart Lawrence

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 13, 1908

I Pray for You

By Emily Stuart Lawrence

I KNOW not what the pain that lies— The hidden pain so hard to bear— Deep in your heart, and through your eyes Asks me for sympathy and prayer; But deepest sympathy I feel In answer to its mute appeal.

It may be God has given you Some task that to the utmost tries Strength, courage, patience, true love, too, Until your fainting spirit cries Beneath its load, and One draws near Who waits the feeblest prayer to hear.

Perhaps the friend that most you loved And trusted as a friend indeed, In time of sorest stress has proved Untrue, a wind-tossed, broken reed; And all the confidence of years Has passed away in burning tears.

It may be Death has passed your door, On cruel mission bent, and left A loneliness that evermore Remains with those by him bereft. The shadow of a grave may lie Upon your heart, across your sky.

Some living trouble, worse to bear Than those with dead forms laid away, May dwell with you, and ever share Your sweetest hour, your brightest day; Laying its hand on every joy, Touching all gladness, to destroy.

Whate’er it be, this grief that lies Deep in your heart, its presence there Can not be hid, but through your eyes It asks for sympathy and prayer; And so this one thing, dear, I do,— With earnest heart I pray for you.

I do not pray that God will take This sorrow from your life; ah, no! I only pray that he will make It work for good to you, and so Bring you rich gain in coming years For all your losses, grief, and tears.

—Emily Stuart Lawrence.