Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 94

I look to Thee in every need, And never look in vain; I feel thy strong and tender love, And all is well again: The thought of thee is mightier far Than sin and pain and sorrow are.

Discouraged in the work of life, Disheartened by its load, Shamed by its failures or its fears, I sink beside the road; But let me only think of Thee, And then new heart springs up in me.

Thy calmness bends serene above My restlessness to still; Around me flows thy quickening life, To nerve my faltering will; Thy presence fills my solitude; Thy providence turns all to good.

Embosomed deep in Thy dear love, Held in thy law, I stand; Thy hand in all things I behold, And all things in thy hand; Thou leadest me by unsought ways, And turn'st my mourning into praise.

--Samuel Longfellow.

FAITH

If I could feel my hand, dear Lord, in thine, And surely know That I was walking in the light divine Through weal or woe;

If I could hear thy voice in accents sweet But plainly say, To guide my groping, wandering feet, "This is the way;"

I would so gladly walk therein; but now I cannot see.

Oh, give me, Lord, the faith to humbly bow And trust in thee!

There is no _faith_ in seeing. Were we led Like children here, And lifted over rock and river-bed, No care, no fear,

We should be useless in the busy throng; Life's work undone; Lord, make us brave and earnest, true and strong, Till heaven is won.

--Sarah Knowles Bolton.

DOUBTING NOTHING

Acts 10. 9-20.

Not to thy saints of old alone dost Thou In heavenly trance make known thy perfect will, But to each hungry soul thy love would fill-- Descending out of heaven, we wist not how-- Comes by thy grace the holy vision now; While we whose hearts should with the message thrill Cry "Common and unholy!" to thee still, And, uninspired, in grief before thee bow.

O Thou, whose Own the way we fare hath trod, Give to thy children quick, discerning eyes To see in life upspringing from the sod All the divineness that within it lies, Till humble service lift us to the skies Who, "doubting nothing," seek thy will, O G.o.d!

--Louise Manning Hodgkins.

THE EYE OF FAITH

I do not ask for earthly store Beyond a day's supply; I only covet more and more The clear and single eye.

To see my duty face to face And trust the Lord for daily grace.

I care not for the empty show That thoughtless worldlings see; I crave to do the best I know, And leave the rest with thee; Well satisfied that sweet reward Is sure to those who trust the Lord.

Whate'er the crosses mine shall be, I will not dare to shun; I only ask to live for thee, And that thy will be done; Thy will, O Lord, be mine each day, While pa.s.sing on my homeward way.

And when at last, my labor o'er, I cross the narrow sea, Grant, Lord, that on the other sh.o.r.e My soul may dwell with thee, And learn what here I cannot know: Why thou hast ever loved me so.

--J. J. Maxfield.

HAVE FAITH IN G.o.d

Have faith in G.o.d! for he who reigns on high Hath borne thy grief and hears the suppliant's sigh, Still to his arms, thine only refuge, fly.

Have faith in G.o.d!

Fear not to call on him, O soul distressed!

Thy sorrow's whisper wooes thee to his breast; He who is oftenest there is oftenest blest.

Have faith in G.o.d!

Lean not on Egypt's reeds; slake not thy thirst At earthly cisterns. Seek the kingdom first.

Though man and Satan fight thee with their worst, Have faith in G.o.d!

Go tell him all! The sigh thy bosom heaves Is heard in heaven. Strength and grace he gives Who gave himself for thee. Our Jesus lives; Have faith in G.o.d!

FAITH IN G.o.d

Though time may dig the grave of creeds, And dogmas wither in the sod, My soul will keep the thought it needs-- Its swerveless faith in G.o.d.

No matter how the world began, Nor where the march of science goes, My trust in something more than man Shall help me bear life's woes.

Let progress take the props away, And moldering superst.i.tions fall; Still G.o.d retains his regal sway-- The Maker of us all.

Why cavil over that or this?

One thought is vast enough for me-- The great Creator was, and is, And evermore will be.

A STRONGER FAITH

Perplext in faith, but pure in deeds, At last he beat his music out.

There lives more faith in honest doubt, Believe me, than in half the creeds.

He fought his doubts and gathered strength, He would not make his judgment blind, He faced the specters of the mind And laid them; thus he came at length

To find a stronger faith his own, And Power was with him in the night, Which makes the darkness and the light, And dwells not in the light alone.

--Alfred Tennyson.

A PERFECT FAITH

O for a faith that will not shrink Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe!

That will not murmur nor complain Beneath the chastening rod, But in the hour of grief or pain Will lean upon its G.o.d;

A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That when in danger knows no fear.

In darkness feels no doubt;