Poems (Kimball)/Discouragement

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DISCOURAGEMENT.
LORD, when I strive to serve Thee most,     Yet toil in vain; When I can see but labor lost,     Instead of gain;
When plans fall out another way     From what seems best, And failure comes though I obey     Thy clear behest;
When hopes whereon I dare to lean     Thou dost deny; When Thou forbiddest me to glean     The fields hard by;
When fairest prospects opening wide     Before mine eyes, Thou wallest in on every side,     And mountains rise
That faith seems powerless to remove,—    Then, dearest Lord, Draw near to me, draw near and prove     Thy written Word!
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That Thou in all things dost ordain     Thy children's good; That joy shall be the fruit of pain     When understood,
I know, and yet (O slow of heart!)     But half believe; And when I fail in secret smart,     And fret, and grieve.
Fill me with faith's divine content     In Thee, O Lord, And make me willing to be spent     Without reward!
Yea, Lord, without one smallest gain,     Though sought alone For others' good, by toil and pain,     Not for mine own.
And when my failures cast me down,     Make me to rest, Not in the thought of any crown,     But on Thy breast.
The weary sea-bird goes to sleep     On tossing waves, Untroubled by the storm, the deep,     In trust that saves.
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It is the hollow of Thy hand     That shapes its nest; So, though I may not understand,     Make me to rest.
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