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.”
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