Once from God’s words I sought
My will to bend,
To shape my thought,
But as I read, I sinned.
His word at once gave comfort,
Warned, distressed;
Both hell and heaven’s fire
Burned, wrestled in my breast.
I sought an answer firm,
A portent given
As of a sign
Clear-written in the heavens.
And now His word I seek
No more as magic art,
For now I see His face,
Rest in His heart.
His presence now within
Interprets to my soul
The words that strike my sin
And cleanse, make whole.
His love and grace
Most patiently
Revealed in my distress.
Giv’n freely now in Him
Are all the gifts
I thought from Him to wrest.
I look to Him, and see,
My doubts and sighings stilled
And I with Thee:
“My Father, it is well.”