Begone, unbelief; my Savior is near,
and for my relief will surely appear;
by prayer let me wrestle, and he will perform;
with Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.
Though dark be my way, since he is my guide,
’tis mine to obey, ’tis his to provide;
though cisterns be broken and creatures all fail,
the word he has spoken shall surely prevail.
His love in time past forbids me to think
he’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink;
while each Ebenezer I have in review
confirms his good pleasure to help me quite through.
Why should I complain of want or distress,
temptation or pain? He told me no less;
the heirs of salvation, I know from his word,
through much tribulation must follow their Lord.
How bitter that cup, no heart can conceive,
which he drank right up that sinners might live;
His way was much rougher and darker than mine;
did Jesus thus suffer, and shall I repine?
Since all that I meet shall work for my good,
the bitter is sweet, the med’cine is food;
though painful at present, ’twill cease before long;
and then, O how pleasant the conqueror’s song!
I don’t recall ever hearing or singing this hymn yet some of the lines are classic and bring reminders of other music.
e.g. “With Christ in the vessel, I can smile at the storm.”
“‘Tis mine to obey, ’tis His to provide”
I intend to use this hymn for my meditation as we draw closer again to Good Friday. How bitter the cup consumed by Christ. “Father, let this cup (of suffering, of separation from His Father) pass from me, nevertheless NOT my will, but THINE be done!”
Why are we such complainers? HIS WAY was MUCH rougher and darker than mine. Lord help me to remember Your agony, Your suffering, Your bitter cup!
