"Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked" (Ecc_7:13).
Often God seems to place His children in positions of profound difficulty, leading them into a wedge from which there is no escape; contriving a situation which no human judgment would have permitted, had it been previously consulted. The very cloud conducts them thither. You may be thus involved at this very hour.
It does seem perplexing and very serious to the last degree, but it is perfectly right. The issue will more than justify Him who has brought you hither. It is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power.
He will not only deliver you; but in doing so, He will give you a lesson that you will never forget, and to which, in many a psalm and song, in after days, you will revert. You will never be able to thank God enough for having done just as He has.
It does seem perplexing and very serious to the last degree, but it is perfectly right. The issue will more than justify Him who has brought you hither. It is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power.
He will not only deliver you; but in doing so, He will give you a lesson that you will never forget, and to which, in many a psalm and song, in after days, you will revert. You will never be able to thank God enough for having done just as He has.
"We may wait till He explains,
Because we know that Jesus reigns."
It puzzles me; but, Lord, Thou understandest,
And wilt one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Thy best--
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.
Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand’ring eyes fixed on Thee;
To make me what I was not, humble, patient;
To draw my heart from earthly love to Thee.
So I will thank and praise Thee for this puzzle,
And trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing Thou dost hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer to Thy guiding hand.
Because we know that Jesus reigns."
It puzzles me; but, Lord, Thou understandest,
And wilt one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Thy best--
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.
Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand’ring eyes fixed on Thee;
To make me what I was not, humble, patient;
To draw my heart from earthly love to Thee.
So I will thank and praise Thee for this puzzle,
And trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing Thou dost hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer to Thy guiding hand.
Sailing On!
By Louis Gander
http://www.ganderpoems.org
"Why is it...
...when stormy seas toss me about,
I call on You, with distressed shout?
I do not pray when things are cool,
but call on You when out of fuel.
"Decisions, mine. I'm on my own,
don't do Your will, I sail alone.
And so at times I miss Your docks
and run my ship up on the rocks.
"When seas are choppy, I'm annoyed,
but when it's calm, it is enjoyed.
That's why, when seas are peaceful, still,
I do my own, and not Your will.
"But bilge is full of water now.
I don't know why. I don't know how.
The pump is on but it's behind.
Another fix, I cannot find.
My best was just not good enough!
My sins now make my life so rough.
And now I'm lost! I'm going down,
through dark abyss, deserve to drown!
"I can't let go. Loosen my grip!
Pilot my hopes, my needs, my ship!
You are my breath, my life, my all.
On You, Lord, I'll forever call.
"It's full of leaks and on the brink!
Please intercede! Don't let me sink!
Lord, take the helm! I do believe!
Please stay aboard and never leave!
"We now sail peacefully. It's grand!
I pray all you ships will understand.
When Him, you finally call upon,
you'll safely too, be sailing on!"
By Louis Gander
http://www.ganderpoems.org
"Why is it...
...when stormy seas toss me about,
I call on You, with distressed shout?
I do not pray when things are cool,
but call on You when out of fuel.
"Decisions, mine. I'm on my own,
don't do Your will, I sail alone.
And so at times I miss Your docks
and run my ship up on the rocks.
"When seas are choppy, I'm annoyed,
but when it's calm, it is enjoyed.
That's why, when seas are peaceful, still,
I do my own, and not Your will.
"But bilge is full of water now.
I don't know why. I don't know how.
The pump is on but it's behind.
Another fix, I cannot find.
My best was just not good enough!
My sins now make my life so rough.
And now I'm lost! I'm going down,
through dark abyss, deserve to drown!
"I can't let go. Loosen my grip!
Pilot my hopes, my needs, my ship!
You are my breath, my life, my all.
On You, Lord, I'll forever call.
"It's full of leaks and on the brink!
Please intercede! Don't let me sink!
Lord, take the helm! I do believe!
Please stay aboard and never leave!
"We now sail peacefully. It's grand!
I pray all you ships will understand.
When Him, you finally call upon,
you'll safely too, be sailing on!"