Encompassed by Clouds of Distress

Encompassed with clouds of dis­tress

Just rea­dy all hope to re­sign

I pant for the light of Thy face

And fear it will nev­er be mine;

Disheartened with wait­ing so long

I sink at Thy feet with my load;

All plaint­ive I pour out my song

And stretch forth my hands un­to God.

Shine

Lord

and my ter­ror shall cease;

The blood of atone­ment ap­ply;

And lead me to Je­sus for peace

The Rock that is high­er than I;

Speak

Sav­ior

for sweet is Thy voice

Thy pre­sence is fair to be­hold;

Attend to my sor­rows and cries

My groan­ings that can­not be told.

If some­times I strive as I mourn

My hold of Thy pro­mise to keep

The bil­lows more fierce­ly re­turn

And plunge me again in the deep;

Harassed and cast out from Thy sight

The tempt­er sug­gests with a roar

The Lord has for­sak­en thee quite;

Thy God will be gra­cious no more.

Yet

Lord

if Thy love hath de­signed

No co­ve­nant bless­ing for me

Ah

tell me

how is it I find

Some plea­sure in wait­ing for Thee?

Almighty to res­cue Thou art;

Thy grace is my on­ly re­source:

If e’er Thou art Lord of my heart

Thy Spir­it must take it by force.