AFTER

This morning I picked up a copy of Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret from my library shelf. Leafing through the pages I came across two lines by Frances Ridley Havergal (pictured), the renowned poet and hymnwriter.

Here are those two lines:

"Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain,
Sight after mystery, peace after pain."

Hoping there was more to this poem/hymn than just the two lines, I entered "sight after mystery" and did a GOOGLE search. Sure enough, I found a three stanza hymn with words by Havergal and the tune by Ira Sankey.

Here's "the rest of the song":

Light after darkness, gain after loss,
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears,
Home after wandering, praise after tears.

Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain,
Sight after mystery, peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast,
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last.

Near after distant, gleam after gloom,
Love after loneliness, life after tomb;
After long agony, rapture of bliss,
Right was the pathway, leading to this.

Dear friend, perhaps you haven't reached the "AFTER" yet. You may be in the midst of a savage storm, a lonesome loss, a desolate depression, a tearful trial. Take heart! The "AFTER" is coming. A sovereign God will not leave you abandoned in this seemingly hopeless place. There will be an "AFTER" and when it comes, you (and I) will be able to say with the hymnwriter, "Right was the pathway, leading to this."

I'm praying for you, my readers, today! Thanks for your partnership in prayer as well.

"And AFTER you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." - 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)