If Thou but suffer God to guide thee

1 If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days;
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2 What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
O'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

3 Only be still and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope with heart content,
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

4 He knows the time for joy, and, truly,
Will send it when He sees it meet;
When He has tried and purged thee duly
And find thee free from all deceit,
He comes to thee all unaware,
And makes thee own His loving care.

5 Nor think amid the heat of trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard;
That he whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring,
And sets a bound to everything.

6 All are alike before the Highest;
'Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by Him are wrought,
Who setteth up and brings to naught.