Until the Night is Gone

    Have you ever felt like you were on a long journey through the dark and there's no end in sight? That is probably how John Henry Newman felt when he wrote this poem which was set to music by John B. Dykes.

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom;

Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home;

     We've been on a long adoption journey with our son and his wife. What we hoped would take half a year has stretched out to a year and the end is still not in sight. There's always one more hoop to jump through and another delay. It seems like there will be no end to this. Why can't things move faster? How much longer must we wait?

     Newman went on to express his faith that God was in control and would bring him through.

Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene--one step enough for me.

So long thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still

Will lead me on

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till

The night is gone.

   

      The Psalmist said in Psalm 31:15, "My times are in your Hand." He knows the date of every person's birth and death. His ways are perfect and we must simply rest in believing He will do what is best in His time and way. 

     At the same time, Jesus said in John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." So we pray every day that He will do what it takes to grant this desire.

      One of the stories my brother Merle told me that is in my new book is about an experience he had when he was involved in the Food Bank. They were praying for a larger building and the amount of money they needed was more than $100,000 above what they had. Then something happened that made him think that sometimes God might like to ask us, "Do you know who I am? I'm the Creator of the universe and you're just asking me for little things. Ask me for something big and impossible." 

     Well, now I am asking for something big and impossible. Move the mountains and make it happen! And help us to hang on until the night is gone.

Behind The Scenes

I came across this poem this afternoon and it fits our situation at the moment. It encouraged me to hang in there and keep waiting.

Behind the Scenes

In the dungeon, Joseph languished--

Waiting, hoping every day

For deliverance, which he trusted

Shortly now would come his way.

Yet still days and weeks ebbed slowly

Into weary months, then years.

Where was God Jehovah's promise?

Was He mindful of his tears?

Then one night--as any other.

And as Joseph slept--the same,

Visions that would change the future

To a startled Pharaoh came.

Only dreams--but quick as lightening,

Things began to change about;

Sovereign plans, now ripe, were hastened,

And God's servant was brought out. . .

Out of straits that seemed unyielding,

Out of what seemed endless fate;

And his trials had but served him

To prepare for service great:

From a sufferer to a saviour,

From a prison to a throne--

For behind the scenes, though silent,

God was working for His own.

Do your pleas seem all unheeded?

Does your case seem "put on hold"?

And the answer sorely yearned for

Heaven seemeth to withhold?

Through the long,unbroken silence--

Though you cannot trace His means--

Rest assured, while you are waiting,

God's at work behind the scenes!

Rachel Kuepfer