Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me?

Why should cross and tri­al grieve me?

Christ is near with His cheer

Never will He leave me.

Who can rob me of the Heav­en

That God’s Son for my own

To my faith hath giv­en?

Though a hea­vy cross I’m bear­ing

And my heart feels the smart

Shall I be des­pair­ing?

God

my help­er

who doth send it

Well doth know all my woe

And how best to end it.

God oft gives me days of glad­ness;

Shall I grieve if He give

Seasons

too

of sad­ness?

God is good and tem­pers ev­er

All my ill

and He will

Wholly leave me nev­er.

Hopeful

cheer­ful

and un­daunt­ed

Everywhere they ap­pear

Who in Christ are plant­ed.

Death it­self can­not ap­pall them

They re­joice when the voice

Of their Lord doth call them.

Death can­not de­stroy for­ev­er;

From our fears

cares and tears

It will us de­liv­er.

It will close life’s mourn­ful sto­ry

Make a way that we may

Enter heav­en­ly glo­ry.

What is all this life pos­sess­es?

But a hand full of sand

That the heart dis­tresses.

Noble gifts that pall me nev­er

Christ

our Lord

will ac­cord

To His saints for­ev­er.

Lord

my She­pherd

take me to Thee.

Thou art mine; I was Thine

Even ere I knew Thee.

I am Thine

for Thou hast bought me;

Lost I stood

but Thy blood

Free sal­va­tion bought me.

Thou art mine; I love and own Thee.

Light of joy

ne’er shall I

From my heart de­throne Thee.

Savior

let me soon be­hold Thee

Face to face—may Thy grace

Evermore en­fold me!