"If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee"

If thou but suffer God to guide thee and hope in Him through all thy ways,

He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days.

Who trusts in God's unchanging love

builds on the Rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail thee, these never-ceasing moans and sighs?

What can it help if thou bewail thee o'er each dark moment as it flies?

Our cross and trials do but press

the heavier for our bitterness.

Be patient and await His leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content

to take whate'er thy Father's pleasure and His discerning love hath sent.

No doubt our inmost wants are known

to Him who chose us for His own.

God knows full well when times of gladness shall be the needful thing for thee.

When He has tried thy soul with sadness and from all guile has found thee free,

He comes to thee all unaware

and makes thee own His loving care.

Nor think amid the fiery trial that God hath cast thee off unheard,

that he whose hopes meet no denial must surely be of God preferred.

Time passes and much change doth bring

and sets a bound to everything.

Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, perform thy duties faithfully,

and trust His Word, though undeserving, thou yet shalt find it true for thee.

God never yet forsook in need

the soul that trusted Him indeed.

"Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." -- Psalm 55:22

Hymn #518, The Lutheran Hymnal - By George Neumark