ark in the distance
May brighten as I draw near.

For perhaps the dreaded future
Is less bitter than I think;
The Lord may sweeten the waters
Before I stoop to drink,
Or, if Marah must be Marah,
He will stand beside its brink.

It may be he keeps waiting
Till the coming of my feet
Some gift of such rare blessedness,
Some joy so strangely sweet,
That my lips shall only tremble
With the thanks they cannot speak.

O restful, blissful ignorance!
'Tis blessed not to know,
It stills me in those mighty arms
Which will not let me go,
And hushes my soul to rest
On the bosom which loves me so!

So I go on not knowing;
I would not if I might;
I would rather walk in the dark with God
Than go alone in the light;
I would rather walk with him by faith,
Than walk alone by sight.

My heart shrinks back from trials
Which the future may disclose,
Yet I never had a sorrow
But what the dear Lord chose;
So I send the coming tears back
With the whispered word, "He knows."

--Mary Gardner Brainard.

"Trust is truer than our fears,"
Runs the legend through the moss;
"Gain is not in added years,
Nor in death is loss."

--John Greenleaf Whittier.

CONFIDO ET CONQUIESCO

Fret not, poor soul; while doubt and fear
Disturb thy breast,
The pitying angels, who can see
How vain thy wild regret must be,
Say, "Trust and Rest."

Plan not, nor scheme, but calmly wait;
His choice is best;
While blind and erring is thy sight
His wisdom sees and judges right;
So Trust and Rest.

Strive not, nor struggle; thy poor might
Can never wrest
The meanest thing to serve thy will;
All power is his alone. Be still,
And Trust and Rest.

Desire thou not; self-love is strong
Within thy breast,
And yet he loves thee better still:
So let him do his loving will,
And Trust and Rest.

What dost thou fear? His wisdom reigns
Supreme confessed;
His power is infinite; his love
Thy deepest, fondest dreams above!
So Trust and Rest.

--Adelaide Anne Procter.

BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING

My spirit on thy care,
Blest Saviour, I recline;
Thou wilt not leave me to despair,
For thou art Love divine.