Lord, We Know That Thou Art Near Us

Lord

we know that Thou art near us

Though Thou seem’st to hide Thy face;

And are sure that Thou dost hear us

Though no an­swer we em­brace.

Not one pro­mise shall mis­car­ry

Not one bless­ing come too late

Though the vi­sion long may tar­ry

Give us pa­tience

Lord to wait.

While with­hold­ing—Thou art giv­ing

In Thine own ap­point­ed way

And while wait­ing we’re re­ceiv­ing

Blessings suit­ed to our day.

O the won­drous lov­ing-kind­ness

Planning

work­ing out of sight

Bearing with us in our blind­ness

Out of dark­ness bring­ing light.

Weaving bless­ings out of tri­als

Out of grief evolv­ing bliss;

Answering pray­er by wise de­ni­als

When Thy child­ren ask amiss.

And when faith shall end in vi­sion

And when pray­er is lost in praise

Then shall love

in full fru­ition

Justify Thy sec­ret ways.