My Strength

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

When the rush and the hurry of every day life
Rise upon me with terrible force,
And it seems that my time has been cut by the knife
Of demands placed upon each day’s course;
When I find life too busy for even a song,
Oh, I pray, Lord that Thou wilt teach me
When I see strength grown short and a road that is long
To be still and to find strength in Thee.

When the road of my life turns a curve sharp and steep
And is broken without a known mend,
And I look for a help and see as I weep
A dread sign that shouts out “Dead End!
When I fall down in failure and wish I could die
For the earth holds no joy I can see
Give me, Lord, at that moment the will just to try
To be still and find rest in Thee.

When the earth smiles upon me and holds out her hands
In rich gifts till my joy is complete
When I find all men’s favour, and happiness stands
At my side making life’s hours sweet,
Then give to me, Lord, more than ever before,
Thy Spirit to help me to see,
That when all is well I need most to adore–
And be still while I find strength in Thee.

Lord Jesus, thy gifts have been boundless to me
Yet I ask one more thing at Thy hand
Through all of my life amid sorrow or glee
As I follow the path Thou hast planned,
Teach me each day in great trials or small
In each problem that comes to me,
To look to my Pilot, my Lord, and my All
And be still while I find strength in Thee.

By Linda Lane Gage (written at age 19 in 1954)