O God, my days are dark indeed

1 O God, my days are dark indeed,
How oft this aching heart must bleed;
The narrow way,--how filled with pain,
That I must pass, ere heaven I gain!

2 How hard to teach this flesh and blood
To seek alone th'eternal God!
Ah! whither now for comfort turn?
For Thee, my Jesus, do I yearn.

3 In Thee have I, howe'er distressed,
Found ever counsel, aid, and rest!
I can not all forsaken be,
While still my heart can trust in Thee.

4 Thine office and Thy person show
That Thou great miracle canst do;
Miraculous was, Lord, Thy birth
When Thou wert born a child on earth.

5 And by Thy death Thou mak'st me free
So strangely from all misery.
Jesus, my only God and Lord,
What sweetness in Thy name is stored!

6 No grief can ever be so sore,
But Thy sweet name can cheer me more;
So keen no sorrow's rankling dart,
But Thy sweet name can heal my heart.

7 Although my flesh and heart may fail,
I'll heed it not, I shall not quail;
My Savior, if I have but Thee,
I shall be blest eternally.

8 With heart and soul I'm Thine fore'er;
Sin, death, and hell I need not fear.
The world can show no truth like Thine,
And therefore will I not repine.

9 I know Thou wilt forsake me not,
Thy truth is fixed, though dark my lot,
Thou art my Shepherd, and Thy sheep
From harm forever Thou wilt keep.

10 Jesus, my Boast, my Light, my Joy,
The Treasure naught can e'er destroy,
No words, no song that I can frame
Speak half the sweetness of Thy name.

11 They only all its power shall prove
Whose hearts have learnt Thy faith and love;
How many a time I've sadly said,
Far better were it I were dead;

12 Far better ne'er the light to see
If I had not this joy in Thee;
For he who hath not Thee in faith,
His very life is merely death.

13 Jesus, my Bridegroom and my Crown,
If Thou but smile, the world may frown,
In Thee He depths of joy untold,
Far richer than the richest gold.

14 Whene'er I do but think of Thee,
Thy dews drop down and solace me;
Whene'er I hope in Thee, my Friend,
Thy comfort and Thy peace descend.

15 Where'er in grief I pray and sing,
I feel new courage in me spring;
Thy Spirit witnesses that this
Is foretaste of th'eternal bliss.

16 Therefore, while life remains in me,
I'll bear Thy cross and follow Thee.
Grant me a patient, willing mood;
I know that it shall work my good.

17 Help me to do my task aright,
That it may stand before Thy sight;
Let me this flesh and blood control,
From sin and shame preserve my soul.

18 O keep me steadfast in the faith,
Then I am Thine in life and death;
Jesus, my Comfort, bend to me,
Ah, would I were e'en now with Thee!