p. 1 | HE KNOWS by Mary G. Brainard

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 46.

HE KNOWS.

By Mary G. Brainard

I KNOW not what will befall me! God hangs a mist o'er my eyes; And o'er each step of my onward path He makes new scenes to rise, And every joy he sends to me Comes as a sweet and glad surprise.

I see not a step before me, As I tread the days of the year, But the past is still in God's keeping, The future his mercy shall clear, And what looks dark in the distance, May brighten as I draw near.

For perhaps the dreaded future Has less bitter than I think; The Lord may sweeten the water Before I stoop to drink; Or, if Marah must be Marah, He will stand beside its brink.

It may be there is waiting, For the coming of my feet, Some gift of such rare blessedness, Some joy so strangely sweet, That my lips can only tremble With the thanks I cannot speak.

My heart shrinks back from trials Which the future may disclose, Yet I never had a sorrow But what the dear Lord chose; So I send back the coming tears, With the whispered word "He knows." —Mary G. Brainard.