God Hath Not Promised (1)
God Hath Not Promised (1)
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God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. |
| But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way, Grace for the trials, help from above, Unfailing sympathy, undying love. |
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God hath not promised we shall not know Toil and temptation, trouble and woe; He hath not told us we shall not bear Many a burden, many a care. |
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God hath not promised smooth roads and wide, Swift, easy travel, needing no guide; Never a mountain, rocky and steep, Never a river, turbid and deep. |
As an elderly person, I have passed through a great many different experiences in human life. Many unpleasant things have happened to me. There is no such thing as a life without difficulties. As the line from a hymn says, "God hath not promised skies always blue" (Hymns, #720). But although I have passed through many situations of unhappiness and unpleasantness, I have been a happy person because I have the Lord Jesus. Even the demons can testify that I am happy in the Lord. I do not have the Lord Jesus merely in an objective way as the One in the heavens. My Christ is both in the heavens and also in me. Hallelujah, Christ lives in me, and I can breathe Him, drink of Him, and feast upon Him! Daily I enjoy the best breathing, drinking, and eating.
As fallen ones, we may have the fallen natural concept that if we fear God, serve Him, love Him, and follow Him, we will prosper in everything; the unhealthy will become healthy and the foolish will become wise. However, God has not promised this. Hymns, #720 was written by an experienced Christian. Verse 1 and the chorus say,
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Many times, God has placed those who love Him into trials and sufferings that they may experience more of Him. When everything is calm and peaceful, we seldom think of enjoying God and know very little about experiencing the Lord. Only when we fall into sufferings can we be humbled to trust the Lord wholeheartedly, call on Him, and enjoy Him.
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Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
When my mother emigrated from Russia via the Netherlands to Canada in 1927, she immediately went into nurses' training at the Hamilton General Hospital. There she began a book of autographs of which this is one of her favourites. The message sustained her through many of life's trials and joys. It was read at her funeral at age 97 as a guide to live by. I didn't realize that there was a tune to this meaningful poem.
Chaiwan, Hong Kong
This song has been my parents' theme song and I grew up listening to them sing it. Next to the song "He giveth more grace," this has been their favorite piece to sing together. This month they have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and I have seen and experienced God's abounding love and grace and faithfulness in their lives. Glory to God.
Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur, Philippines
He is our everything, as He is the reality of everything that we have. The first time that I heard this hymn the lyrics touches me a lot, even the content of the hymn. Really, He is working within us that we may realized how we need to experienced Him more. He's so gracious to us in so many ways that we can't measure. "Lord, thank You so much for everything. In sorrow or in pain You're always there for me. You made me see how vast is Your care for me. Lord, continue to work Yourself within me. Wherever am I, whatever I do, remind me that You will always be the preeminence." How we need to see Him more and more every moment of our lives.
Hay River, NWT, Canada
My parents were married on May 10, 1939. This song was selected by them to be sung at their wedding. We are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary with them this weekend. They have experienced God's faithfulness through difficult and good times.
Welch, Oklahoma, United States
Many years ago my mother wrote the words to the first verse and chorus of this song in my autograph book. I didn't even realize it was a song. Thank you for making it available to me.
Dallas, TX, United States
The first verse and chorus of this hymn was copied into my mother's Bible from a sympathy card in 1941. All these years I have not known the author, or that it was a hymn. It has been a great comfort to me over the years and I am thrilled to know its' origin.
San Marcos, TX, United States
Expectations of the way we believe God is supposed to act, is demonstrated by John the Baptist when he sent two disciples to ascertain if Jesus were really the one. Jesus said, And blessed is he WHOSOEVER shall not be offended in me. Just like John the Baptist, we have certain expectations about the way God is supposed to act. Sometimes we have faith in our expectations and not properly in the Lord. The trial is when God allows those expectations to fail, and as Spurgeon says, God shoots his arrow of seeming abandonment into the heart of the fiery trail of our faith. Has not the Lord told us to think it not strange the fire that shall purify us to make us just like Jesus? This song is a sweet balm on the way. Habakkuk was shaken by the news from God, but came to that place in his heart where he trusted God no matter if all his expectations failed.
Church In Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Amen. This song reminds me of so many times that I've had terrible days...and even "good" days. But I realize now that I had the opportunity to call upon the Lord and make it a God day. I still do, so praise the Lord, saints.
Oh Lord Jesus, we love You and need You all the time.
Richmond, B.C., Canada
Thank you for all of your sharings, and the song as well. This is not only an encouraging song to me but it also helps me realize the real meaning behind all the situations I've been through. That is for Him to work more of Himself into us, so we can experience His exhaustless riches and He can accomplish His eternal purpose. Praise the Lord for His sovereign arrangement!
This song is so marvelous! It helps me to see my daily situation with a different perspective. Now I am learning to make the urgent turn to my spirit and opening up to Him. Each time I do so I drink of Him, take His Being in to be my life supply so that I can go through each particular step. I want this to be my moment by moment reality....because I love Him!!!!!