Not in Vain

It tar­ries long

and seems to say

God hath for­got­ten me.

Yet shall it come

and when it comes

Good shall the an­swer be.

It seem­eth sad so long to watch

Thus tossed on stor­my sea;

But day shall break

and when it comes

Good shall the an­swer be.

So tired of sin and strife

the soul

Cries out in vain to Thee;

Yet not in vain; de­liv­er­ance comes;

Good shall the an­swer be.

The night is long

the sky is dark

In fear we bow the knee

We plead for light; it comes at last—

Good shall the an­swer be.

The bat­tle goes against us

yet

We fight and will not flee;

Help

Lord! He hears: and when it comes

Good shall the an­swer be.

How long! the wi­dowed Church thus pleads

In hours of ago­ny.

But not in vain; her cry is heard;

Good shall the an­swer be.

How long! Cre­ation cries in bonds

Still long­ing to be free!

The groan is heard; and when it comes

Good shall the an­swer be.