Through God’s word, my hope at His returning

Through God’s word

my hope at His returning

Is that all my being be redeemed;

Yet in times of grief and tribulation

Doubt and fear arise

no hope is seen.

In those hours

when prayer cannot be uttered

Only groaning from my breast is heard.

Then the Spirit

in like manner

helps me

Praying in my weakness unto God.

Lord

my prayer is not for deeper suffering

But that from each trial I’d be free.

Let the cup of bitterness be taken;

Yet

Thy will

not mine

dear Lord

must be.

Even now

though trials sore surround me

Still within my heart there is a peace

For the love of God outpoured within me

Floods my heart and bids my doubting cease.

Blest assurance! God has fully ordered

Every matter by His sovereign hand;

Every person (though we see so dimly)

Every thing’s according to His plan.

Every trial is but the Father’s answer

To the groaning of the Spirit’s prayer;

May He gain in every tribulation

Until we Christ’s glory fully share.

How could God from all His dealings spare us

After He spared not His only Son?

Could the Potter’s hand upon the vessel

Ever leave the shaping work undone?

For the center of God’s heart’s desire

Is that many brethren we will be

Unto Christ

His precious First-begotten

And to Him

conformed we’ll fully be.

Heirs of God! Joint-heirs with our Lord Jesus!

What a hope of glory this for us!

Though the suff’rings presently seem grievous

Greater far the glory then for us!

Yea

in all these things we more than conquer

Through the One whose love has us possessed;

Soon the day for which waits all creation

When the sons of God are manifest!