Despair

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DESPAIR

I fall like a stone down the wishing well,

Like Alice down her rabbit hole,

And how to stop, I cannot tell;

While my spirit is ruled by my soul.

I sink ‘neath the waves, like a drowning man,

As if I had not learned to swim,

And my mind tells my spirit, I never can

Be truly free from this sin.

"It’s only human to doubt", it will say,

"To live with this ache inside";

So again I turn from my God away,

And sink ‘neath the swirling tide.

But a voice inside me says dare to reach,

For a hand that is held from the shore,

And a brother standing upon God’s beach,

Will pull you t’ward land once more.

Your truths are thrown, thick and fast,

Like the darts from the enemy;

But unlike those, this pain doesn’t last,

For it’s truth which sets us free.

It is not me who is hurt by this love,

It’s the soul who pretends to be me;

My spirit knows the words come from above,

That the whole of me, God’s love might see.

So I read these words and they dull the ache,

As my spirit strives to survive,

And a new approach to the Lord I dare make,

For there’s hope while we’re yet alive.

I come to You, Lord, and confess my sin,

Admit my fears and my doubt;

And I find you’re still ready to take me in,

And to turn these things about.

The ‘feelings’ try to cloud this hope,

The ache though it’s dulled, is still there;

But my feet are, again, on the upward slope,

Because someone took time to care.

There are Bible studies, that will teach the Word,

And such fellowship, makes us strong;

But the devil at times will cloud what we’ve heard,

We need someone to come along.

And it doesn’t take a pastor’s degree,

To stretch out a helping hand,

It just takes a heart that a need will see,

To pull someone back to land.

Yes, we each can slip, and we each can fall,

And think that we’ve nothing to give;

But we also each, can at times stand tall,

And show out the Lord where we live.

If we each remember the times we’ve been down,

On the day when we’re feeling strong;

We’ll help our brother achieve his crown,

As we reach out to help him along.

And the Lord will see, and the Lord will smile,

With the joy of a Father well pleased;

As one child walks that extra mile,

And another child’s pain is eased.

It’s awe-fully big, this family of God,

And growing so, more, every day;

But we follow the path that the Master trod,

And show others, that He is the Way.

So whether you’re down and needing a hand,

Or the hand reaching out to give aid;

Our Father will love you, just where you stand,

For in love you truly were made.

© 16-20/10/2001