STRENGTH by Marianna Farningham

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1882

STRENGTH

By Marianna Farningham

“Give thy strength unto thy servant.”—David.

What is the work that I have to do? It is strange, new work. I cannot see Whence the strength shall come, that I may pursue The difficult tasks that are given to me. If it were but the rich, ripe, summer days, Among the vines I might work and sing, Gathering fruit for the Master's praise, Offering treasures to the King.

But what can I do among winter snows, When the ground is hard, and the fields are bare, And my heart cries out for a dull repose, And rest, and ease, that are free from care? Father, where should thy weak ones go But unto thee, who art good and strong? So I wait in my weakness thy will to know, And for the strength I have tested long.

And yet it were easier far to do, Than it is to bear, as the days go on; Only the Strongest can help me through, As he always helped in the days by-gone; For the clouds are gathering heavily Over the tops of the distant hills; But I know that the storms that threaten me Can only come as my Father wills.

Give me thy strength, O Lord, I cry; Strength to suffer or work for thee; Strength for the tempest that draweth nigh, However mighty its wrath may be. I am not sorry to be so weak, If thus my Father be glorified; Only give me thy love to speak, And be the shadow in which I hide.

—Marianna Farningham.