Poems (Clark)/Jesus Knows
JESUS KNOWS
I cannot understand, when o'er Time's ocean My life-barque sailed,Why tempests came, and why in dim confusion My way seemed veiled;The reasons are not clear to my weak vision,— I look in vainFor that fair port, and for those fields Elysian I thought to gain.But this is plain; God saw it best, and therefore The storm arose;And though I cannot see the why or wherefore, Yet Jesus knows.
I cannot tell, why, when the day seemed clearest, Dark clouds should lower;Or why the hopes that my fond heart held dearest, Failed in an hour:I know not why the morning's glorious shining Was veiled ere noon,Or why the fragrant garlands love was twining Should fade so soon.But this I know; though God His why and where- fore Doth not disclose,His purposes are ever best, and therefore He surely knows.
I know not now, but Jesus knows, why shadows Shut out the light;Why treasures we deemed deathless, felt so soon The touch of blight;Why hearts we leaned our own against, believing That truth held sway,Crushed our fond trusting love with drear deceiving, Darkening our way.I cannot tell; but God the why and wherefore May yet disclose;He doeth all things well, and therefore He surely knows.
Much, much there is to our poor human vision, Shrouded in gloom;Much that when questioned by our weak decision Seems saddest doom.Many the treasures that we mourn, departed From our fond hold,Leaving us desolate, and broken-hearted, With griefs untold.We cannot fathom yet the why and wherefore Of joys or woes,But our dear Lord does ever right, and therefore His wisdom knows.