Today at our youth service I said this poem. It touched me very closely the first time a read it and even does now. I hope it inspires you all to push yourself to continue serving God with all you have, because he NEVER gave up on you.
The Blessings of a Storm
By David Massey
I did not know His love before,
The way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
My pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care,
The “self-sufficient lie”.
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
And not a cloud was in my sky.
I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I’d seen His grace.
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I’d found my place.
But soon my way grew rough and dark,
And storm clouds quickly rolled.
The waves began to rock my ship,
And my anchor would not hold.
The ship that I had built myself
Was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
With nowhere left to hide.
I had no strength, nor faith to
Face the trials that lay ahead.
So I simply prayed to Him,
And bowed my weary head.
His loving arms enveloped me,
And then He helped me stand.
He said, “You still must face this storm,
But I will hold your hand.”
So through the dark and lonely night,
He guided me through the pain.
I could not see the light of day,
Or when the storm might wane.
Yet through the aches and endless tears,
My faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
But my light began to glow.
I saw God’s love in a brand new light,
His grace and mercy too.
For only when all self was gone,
Could Jesus’ love shine through.
It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes questioned, “Why?”
At time I’d thought, “I can’t go on”,
Then I would hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Through the pain and strife, the fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.
Now I see, as never before,
How great His love can be.
How in my weakness, He is strong;
How Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good,
Although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear,
And then he cried, “Enough!”
He raised His hand and said, “Be still”;
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of Joy,
And flooded me with peace
I see His face, now clearer still,
And I felt His presence strong.
I found a new, his faithfulness;
He never did me wrong.
Now I know more storms will come,
But only for my good.
For pain and tear have helped me grow,
As nothing else ever could.
I still have so much more to learn,
As Jesus works in me.
If in the storm I’ll love Him more,
Then that is where I want to be.
