This Too Will Pass

As your days, so shall your strength be. Deut. 33:25

I’m coming on with a prayer request. Even though I did have a blessed Lord’s Day, had sweet fellowship with the brethren at church and home, I still felt grumpy when I woke up today. I know a big reason for this is that I’ve purposed to start working on our income taxes today. Every year, I have this same attitude about doing our taxes. If there’s anybody out there who enjoys this less than delightful American privilege, please raise your hand! I've got to to pull myself together here. Pray that I'll have a better attitude. I should play the “glad game” again with my daughter Beverly, who posted about that a few weeks ago. I need to be thankful for the money that has to be accounted for and for the strength of mind and body to do it. I’m also grateful (I think) for the H & R Block online program that I used for the first time last year, which makes it a bit easier. And if I really do get going on it today, I’ll be happy that it will be earlier than it usually is. It’s normally April when it gets started.

I want to post a hymn. We sang this last night at church and we found out that this is the favorite of one of our members. This lady has trials in her life and I can see why she loves it. I hope someone reads this today and is uplifted. It was written by a Swedish woman, after a great tragedy in her life when she was just 26 years old. So these words came from a broken heart. If there are any broken or troubled hearts out there, hopefully these words will help ease your burden. When I think about the trials that some people are going through, my grumpiness over the income taxes seems so petty. These moments are going to pass anyway.

Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what he deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares he fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r,
The protection of his child and treasure
Is a charge that on himself he laid;
“As your days, your strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me he made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust your promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

~Linda Sandell Berg, 1865