At times, in the struggle
2 Corinthians 12.9

Tune: To God be the glory

At times, in the struggle, the road seems too long,
the deserts too arid, all joy drained and gone;
our wilderness wand’rings risk searing each soul;
we’re dried up and failing, long miles from our goal.
But God knows how it goes when no respite is near;
God has been, God has seen both exhaustion and fear.
It’s then, in our wastelands, our deserts of pain,
that God’s re-creation can reach us again.

At times in the struggle we’ve no more to give,
we ache with exhaustion, no life left to live;
we’ve given our all to the cause that we share,
but now, we’re not certain that we even care.
But God knows how it goes when we’re worn out and done;
God has been, God has seen hard-pressed people succumb.
It’s then, when we’re listless, dismissive, unsure,
that God can rebirth us, so we will endure.

At times in the struggle our campfires burn low,
we shiver in darkness with nowhere to go;
the sting of betrayal, dark doubts deep inside,
have stripped us and left us with no hope to guide.
But God knows how it goes in the cold and the dark;
God has been, God has seen how we all need an ark.
It’s there, in our darkness, left sleepless and cold,
God’s warmth can remake us, persistent and bold.

At times, in the struggle, we’re facing defeat;
we’ve given and given, we’re losing the beat;
we’re random, erratic, confused and unsure,
too weak to live boldly, too sad to endure.
But God knows how it goes when our song falls apart;
God has been, God has seen the collapse of life’s art.
It’s then when we’re tuneless, our rhythm long gone,
God’s beat starts a-stirring, renewing the song.

Photo:  Hwange sunrise, Zimbabwe, by Ana Gobledale