I cannot always trace the onward course My ship must take, But, looking backward, I behold afar Its shining wake Illumined with God's light of love; and so I onward go, In perfect trust that he who holds the helm The course must know.
I cannot always see the plan on which He builds my life; For oft the sound of hammers, blow on blow, The noise of strife, Confuse me till I quite forget he knows And oversees, And that in all details with his good plan My life agrees.
I cannot always know and understand The Master's rule; I cannot always do the tasks he gives In life's hard school; But I am learning, with his help, to solve Them one by one, And, when I cannot understand, to say, "Thy will be done."
The clouds which rise with thunder slake Our thirsty souls with rain; The blow most dreaded falls to break From off our limbs a chain; And wrongs of man to man but make The love of God more plain. As through the shadowy lens of even The eye looks farthest into heaven-- On gleams of star and depths of blue The glaring sunshine never knew.
Still will we trust, though earth seem dark and dreary, And the heart faint beneath his chastening rod; Though rough and steep our pathway, worn and weary, Still will we trust in God.
Our eyes see dimly till by faith anointed, And our blind choosing brings us grief and pain; Through him alone who hath our way appointed, We find our peace again.
Choose for us, God! nor let our weak preferring Cheat our poor souls of good thou hast designed; Choose for us, God! thy wisdom is unerring, And we are fools and blind.
Let us press on in patient self-denial, Accept the hardship, shrink not from the loss; Our portion lies beyond the hour of trial, Our crown beyond the cross.
With strength of righteous purpose in the heart What cause to fear for consequence of deed? God guideth then, not we; nor do we need To care for aught but that we play our part. Most simple trust is often highest art. The issue we would fly may be a seed Ordained by God to bear our souls a meed Of peace that no self-judging could impart. "All things work good for him who trusteth God!" Doth God not love us with a longing love To make us happy, and hath he not sight From end to end of our short earthly road? This, Lord, I hold--aye, _know_ that thou wouldst move The world to lead one trusting soul aright.