He Constrained Them

Is the dark­ness all about thee?

Are the bil­lows high?

Art thou wea­ry

toil­ing

row­ing

And no hav­en nigh?

Jesus comes up­on the wa­ters

That are dash­ing high;

Hear Him speak in tones as­sur­ing

Do not fear

’tis I.

Are the winds now fierce

con­tra­ry

Testing all thy might?

Does it seem that heart must fail thee

In the drea­ry night?

Is there none to bring thee suc­cor

In this hour of test?

Yes

the lov­ing Mas­ter sees thee

Toiling at thy best!

Yesterday thy hands were bu­sied

Feeding hun­gry souls;

Now

con­strained

they toil in row­ing

Where the mad sea rolls.

Lose not heart

O dear dis­ci­ple

If the tem­pest roar

But con­si­der how He blest thee

Just the day be­fore.

Gladly ren­der any serv­ice

He may choose for thee;

Caring not what pain or plea­sure

There may in it be.