Your paths did I follow, to give light to my feet,
So that in the battles of life, I would face not defeat.
Yet the struggles of life have taken their toll,
In Satan’s attempt to stop me from reaching my goal.
I know of Job and of his sufferings told,
So forgive me, Father, if I’m not quite so bold.
For in Your strength alone is my only hope,
While bearing my burden as my adversaries gloat.
From my lover and friends some comfort I sought,
Only to learn their loyalty had been bought,
For now they are gone, since I have nothing to give,
And a life of their own, they have chosen to live.
The “peace” that I knew that once seemed so real,
Seems so distant from me now, that I desire not my meal.
I was called to “suffer”, so I dare not complain,
Yet ask what is it I’ve done, to warrant such pain.
I’ve searched my soul as the Psalmist once did,
To look for some sin that my heart might have hid.
But all of my sin I know I’ve confessed,
And have been forgiven by the Lord I profess.
So what then is the reason that I am suffering so,
With no help from friends and to the pleasure of my foes.
I lived in despair and failed to understand
That blessing and problems are from the same Hand.
In anger & frustration did I live the days of my life,
Days without pleasure and nights full of strife,
I felt so alone with all of my pain and my loss
Until I considered the One who hung on the cross.
“Where is your God?” is asked in light of my loss,
But was this not asked of the One nailed to the cross?
He was a “man of sorrows” , the Scriptures do say,
Should anything less be expected by His children today?
I am determined to live for Him, come what may,
Though I may not understand it all along the way.
The more I yield to His ways, the more troubles I receive,
But better this, than His Spirit I grieve.
When this life is over,
And the last battle won,
All will have been worth it,
To hear His “Well done…..”
Douglas R. Laird
Author’s note: The peace that “transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7 NIV) is not put to the test in times of prosperity, but rather in times of adversity. It is during the times of adversity that we can find rest for our souls in our relationship with God. (Matt.11: 29,30 NIV) (1Peter 5:7 NIV).
-------------------------------------------------1 “man of sorrows” Isaiah 53:3 NIV
2 “Well done…” Matt.25:21 NIV
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (R) Copyright (C) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Rights reserved.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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