Affliction, Submission under

Verse 1

God is the refuge of his saints,
When storms of sharp distress invade.
Ere we can offer our complaints,
Behold him present with his aid.

Verse 2

Let mountains from their seats be hurled
Down to the deep, and buried there;
Convulsions shake the solid world;—
Our faith shall never yield to fear.

Verse 3

There is a stream, whose gentle flow
Supplies the city of our God;
Life, love, and joy still gliding through,
And watering our divine abode:—

Verse 4

That sacred stream, thy holy word,—
That all our raging fear controls:
Sweet peace thy promises afford,
And give new strength to fainting souls.

Verse 1

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Verse 2

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Verse 3

Ye fearful saints! fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Verse 4

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

Verse 5

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Verse 6

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

Verse 1

I can not always trace the way
Where thou, Almighty One, dost move;
But I can always, always say,
That God is love, that God is love.

Verse 2

When fear her chilling mantle flings
O’er earth, my soul to heaven above,
As to her native home, upsprings,
For God is love, for God is love.

Verse 3

When mystery clouds my darkened path,
I’ll check my dread, my doubts reprove;
In this my soul sweet comfort hath,
That God is love, that God is love.

Verse 4

Yes, God is love;—a thought like this,
Can every gloomy thought remove,
And turn all tears, all woes, to bliss,
For God is love, for God is love.

Verse 1

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on,
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on;
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

Verse 2

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead thou me on;
I loved the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.

Verse 3

So long thy pow’r has blessed me, sure it still
Will lead me on;
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

Verse 1

My God, my Father, while I stray
Far from my home, in life’s rough way,
Oh, teach me from my heart to say,
“Thy will be done!”

Verse 2

If thou should’st call me to resign
What most I prize--it ne’er was mine--
I only yield thee what was thine--
“Thy will be done!”

Verse 3

If but my fainting heart be blest
With thy sweet Spirit for its guest,
My God! to thee I leave the rest--
“Thy will be done!”

Verse 4

Renew my will from day to day;
Blend it with thine, and take away
All that now makes it hard to say,
“Thy will be done!”

Verse 5

Then, when on earth I breathe no more
The pray’r, oft mixed with tears before,
I’ll sing upon a happier shore,
“Thy will be done!”

Verse 1

My Jesus, as thou wilt—
O may thy will be mine!
Into thy hand of love
I would my all resign;
Through sorrow, or through joy,
Conduct me as thine own,
And help me still to say,
My Lord, thy will be done!

Verse 2

My Jesus, as thou wilt—
If needy here and poor,
Give me thy people’s bread,
Their portion rich and sure;
The manna of thy word,
Let my soul feed upon,
And, if all else should fail,
My Lord, thy will be done!

Verse 3

My Jesus, as thou wilt—
If among thorns I go,
Still sometimes here and there
Let a few roses blow.
But thou, on earth, along
The thorny path hast gone:
Then lead me after thee;
My Lord, thy will be done!

Verse 1

Peace, be still!
In this night of sorrow bow;
Oh, my heart, contend not thou;
What befalls is God’s own will;
Peace, be still!

Verse 2

Hold thee still!
Tho’ the Father scourge thee sore,
Cling thou to him all the more;
Let him mercy’s work fulfill;
Hold thee still!

Verse 3

Lord, my God!
Give me grace, that I may be
Thy true child, and silently
Own thy scepter and thy rod;
Lord, my God!

Verse 4

Shepherd mine!
From thy fullness give me still
Faith to do and bear thy will
Till the morning light shall shine;
Shepherd mine!

Verse 1

Thy way, O God! is in the sea,
Thy paths I cannot trace;
Nor comprehend the mystery
Of thine unbounded grace.

Verse 2

’Tis but in part I know thy will;
I bless thee for the sight;
When will thy love the rest reveal,
In glory’s clearer light?

Verse 3

Here the dark veils of flesh and sense
My captive soul surround;
Mysterious deeps of providence
My wondering thoughts confound.

Verse 4

As through a glass I dimly see
The wonders of thy love;
How little do I know of thee,
Or of the joys above!

Verse 5

With rapture I shall soon survey
Thy providence and grace;
And spend an everlasting day
In wonder, love, and praise.

Verse 1

“Thy will be done!” In devious way
The hurrying stream of life may run;
Yet still our grateful hearts shall say,
“Thy will be done.”

Verse 2

“Thy will be done!” If o’er us shine
A gladdening and a prosperous sun,
This prayer will make it more divine—
“Thy will be done!”

Verse 3

“Thy will be done!” Tho’ shrouded o’er
Our path with gloom, one comfort, one
Is ours:—to breathe, while we adore,
“Thy will be done.”