Two Poems about Thankfulness for Hard Things

 

A Thanksgiving

For all Thy blessings given there are many to thank Thee, Lord,
But for the gifts withholden I fain would add my word.

For good things I desired that barred me from the best,
The peace at the price of honour, the sloth of a shameful rest;

The poisonous sweets I longed for to my hungering heart denied,
The staff that broke and failed me when I walked in the way of pride;

The tinsel joys withheld that so content might still be mine,
The help refused that might have made me loose my hand from Thine;

The light withdrawn that I might not see the dangers of my way;
For what Thou hast not given, I thank Thee, Lord today.

Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

A Thanksgiving for Hard Things

Thank You, my Father that Your wisest choosing,
To my own wayward heart is ever proving,
That some glad joy I longed my life to garnish,
Would but have left me marred with rust and tarnish.

Thank You, Lord, for that most kind depriving,
Which mercifully withstood my soul's mad driving,
Has kept me from some greater, horribler loss,
While teaching me the glory of Thy cross.

Thank You that the smaller scars I have sustained,
Have kept me, Lord, from what I might have gained,
Of deeper wounds that span the years of life,
And bear the loathsome fruit of constant strife.

Thank You for Your thoughtful little tokens,
Reminding that I'm loved, though sorely broken;
And so I find these smaller blessings meet,
To bring me here in worship at Thy feet.

Thank You, Lord, that that which seemeth good to Thee,
Hath overruled that which seemed so good to me,
And so withheld some earthly satisfaction,
That I might serve Thee here without distraction.

O Thank You, God, that confidence yet growing,
Can rest in Thy great wisdom, safely knowing,
Though troubles come which I can never tell,
Yet my Redeemer doeth all things well.

By Mary Stephens
Originally written in Nov. 2004

1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Mark 7:37  …He hath done all things well…

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.