p. 134 | WAITING | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 7, 1873

WAITING

How long, O Lord! My fainting soul grows weary Beneath its weight of earthly care each day, And sometimes all around seems cold and dreary, And threatening clouds o'erhang my toilsome way; With heart and hand o'erburdened, shall I dare To mingle low complaining with my prayer?

Oh, let me now thy wondrous peace inherit! Dispel the darkness—crush the tempter's power; Unbind these chains that hold my struggling spirit, Reveal Heaven's glorious light one blessed hour, And from the boundless treasuries of grace Help me to end the conflict, win the race.

Presumptuous prayer! O weak and stubborn mortal! Behold the cross, the scourge, the thorny crown, The shadow dark'ning even Heaven's portal, Then cast the vain imagination down; Thou canst not gain the victory but through strife; Only through sufferings deep we enter life.

Enough. Here in my weakness lowly bending; Each fond desire, each vain regret be still— Dear Lord, once more in pity condescending, Low in the dust lay my rebellious will; The day will not be long if thou art near, Nor will the darkest night awaken fear.

Thou who didst make the hard, cold earth thy pillow, Teach me in patience still my watch to keep; In midnight darkness on the foaming billow, Or where still waters in green pastures sleep; Through fire by night, or stormy cloud by day, Still let me keep thine own appointed way.

—Sel.