Black Dog

>

Black Dog

Black dog likes to hang around,
Tail tucked in, and nose to ground,
Pulling hearts and hopes down low,
Spreading gloom, where e’er he’d go

Though you may not want him there,
You let him stay, and learn despair,
For he is not a friendly hound,
And with him, joy cannot be found.

Unlike a dog of flesh and bone,
Who brings true love into a home,
Black dog is a solemn beast,
Who steals your hope, and joy, at least.

He lets you know that you’re alone,
No happiness in him is shown,
And when he beats you to the ground,
He slinks away, that loathsome hound.

So now you should jump up, - rejoice, -
Until you hear his grating voice,
"Why don’t you stay just where you are,
I have not wandered off too far,

I’m just recruiting someone new,
To pull them down, - like I did you."
And once again you switch off hope,
Withdrawal is the way to cope.

If you don’t go, - they can’t reject,
At least you’ll have your self-respect,
You try to kid yourself that’s true,
And fail again in what you do.

If you don’t go, -despair has won,
Your isolation has now begun,
And left alone, one coal burns out,
And that’s what Black Dog’s all about.

He has a master that you know,
There was a time, you bade him go,
The day you let your Lord come in,
And fellowshipped and supped with Him.

And He has not forsaken you,
He stayed with you, since you asked Him to,
But He is not inclined to shout,
To make you turn your life about.

He’ll whisper words that penetrate,
Through Black Dog’s spiel of woe and hate,
And if you’ll hear His Words so true,
They’ll give you strength to pull you through.

For He is love, and loves you so,
Far more than you can think, or know,
And though you feel you’re so alone,
He’s been there too, and His love shown.

For feelings lie, as well we know,
They trick us with the things they show,
They pull deceit across our eyes,
And blind us with their cunning lies.

But through it all, His Word stands true,
It is the guide for all we do,
And He will be our guiding light,
And stand behind us in the fight.

For me He will not break His Word,
To think He would, is just absurd,
He died for every single one,
And planned His death e’er time begun.

His love does not depend on me,
On what I do, nor how I be,
And even when I’m lying low,
He loves the me I do not know.

He loves the me I cannot see,
The one that hides from even me,
It’s not the me you see and scorn,
He knew this me, e’er I was born.

The me that one day, you can know,
When He takes us where He’d have us go,
For He has made for us a place,
Where we can live, and see His face.

Where we will know our ‘inner me’,
As we are seen, so we shall see,
We’ll see ourselves through Jesus’ eyes,
Stripped of our guilt, and satan’s lies.

We’ll see ourselves through eyes of love,
The perfect Love of God above,
And what a sight will we behold,
As by His grace, our heart’s made bold.

Oh, Lord, until that day, hold me,
For now I falter at what I see,
But I will trust Your word is true,
And I will give my fears to You.

For You will never let me down,
Though waters rise, I will not drown,
Though fire consumes, I will not burn,
Your love, I’ll never have to earn.

For You have claimed me for Your own,
The me that You have always known,
And You will always stay the same,
Your power, Your grace, Your love, Your Name.

At Your Name, other names will shrink,
And black dog to his knees will sink,
For at Your Name, all knees will bow,
And all tongues shall confess You now.

Praise God for love that never ends,
Praise God our great and mighty Friend,
Praise God, praise God for mercies new,
Praise God, praise God in all you do.

© 16/01/06