A Looking Glass called Hope

In dark moments of depression, pain, discouragement, and sorrow ... Our hope is made real. This poem is the overflow of an overwhelmed season, where I reflected deeply on the pain of life (the hardship of our voyage). Through it all, Jesus has felt more close, more sweet, more beautiful, more dear to my heart than before. Look through the Looking Glass, dear pilgrim. The voyage is hard but the promise of the world to come is worth it.

A Looking Glass called Hope

A poem for weary pilgrims

Your God has said, “Your life is sent.

To sail to shores that I have meant.

Take heed you stay upon the course

To joys that flow from endless source.”

You’ve heard this land is green and good

And all would take it, if they could

A home is made for you alone

A family waits, a crown, a throne

It seems too good to be quite true

But God has said it waits for you

You must just sail across the sea

To find the world that’s yours for free

Your map in hand, you man the bow

And heed the words within your vow

To sail thy soul upon God’s word

To reach those shores that you have heard.

As open seas lay vast in front

You stir your heart for this long hunt

Your boat is filled with all you need

And as you sail, your mind takes heed

Your Map is God’s inspired Word

To train, to guide, and faith to gird

Your guiding star, God’s glory is

Unmoving, fixed, its beauty, His

Your Sail is stitched with Christ’s own hand

His righteousness, imputed, stands

Without it you could never move

And by it, faith is fully proved

A strong North Wind unfurls the sail

From gentle breeze to full assail

The Spirit is your steady wind

Its faithful thrust does ne’er rescind

You place your hand upon the Mast

God’s promises that’ve yet to pass

The beam is strong and sure to hold

For each vow made is carved with gold

A Looking Glass stays at your side

Your king directs, “As you are tried,

Look through the glass with faith-filled eyes

Its lens is Hope to see your prize.”

The voyage long, its perils great

Wind and rain try to ablate

Sail blind through fog and blackened night

And creatures dark, you often fight

And even then, when dangers cease

Still other boats try to entreat

To turn around, “You’re lost,” they say

“The land’s not real. Come, turn away!”

Your heart, it fails, you weep and mourn

The hardship that this path has worn

Will rest yet come? Is all for naught? 

Is God’s Word true? Is pain my lot?

As fog descends and whispers tell

To save your life, you must rebel

“Your king’s dear love cannot be true

Turn back and start again brand-new.”

And as you sit and bare your soul

The wind blows strong, waves start to roll

The gold-carved words, the mast it glows

God’s vows glow bright amidst the throes

You crawl towards the glowing mast

You wrap your arms and hold it fast

You climb it till you reach the peak

The fog is thick, your gaze is bleak

You hold your glass, and dare to trust

That Hope might see, it can, it must

“Will I, his child, be left forsook?”

Through fog and rain and wind you look

“I see the land! It’s green and good

And all would take it, if they could

A home is made for me alone

A family waits, a crown, a throne.”

“My God has not put me to shame.

I see the treasures I will claim

A little more, I must go on

And going, I will sing a song!”

“I know it’s mine and I will reach

My King who waits upon that beach

Though voyage filled with great dismay

All my dark grief, he will repay.”

“My boat will surely make it home

And bow I will, before his throne

For not one ounce did I provide

To bring me to the other side.”

“My king I come, I will endure

For I believe you will ensure

The glory I see dimly now

I will receive in full, in thou.”