Poems (Kimball)/"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him"

by Harriet McEwen Kimball

"THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM."

OFT by trials overborne,
 Baffled where I strove to do,
Not the way I would have gone
 Thou, dear Lord, hast led me through
Yet, believing, I can say,
It was best—this very way.

And to-morrow can I doubt
 What Thou orderest will be best?
Darkness may be round about;
 Faith may meet its sorest test;
But the past must lend a my
Of assurance for that day.

Not in vain Thy grace has wrought
 Secretly, against my will,
Bringing me to think this thought
 And to trust Thy mercy still;
Trusting, as I surely may,
Just because of yesterday.

Nay, forgive me! poor indeed
 Is the faith whose backward gaze
Seeks for signs that it may plead
 In behalf of coming days,
Strengthening timid hope to say,
"He was gracious yesterday."

Ah, how little do we know
 Of Thy mercy's magnitude!
How our faith should burn and glow
 With the thought that Thou art good!
And in adoration say,
"I will trust Him, though He slay."

Once Thou didst bestow a sign
 That forever should suffice;
Showing forth the Love Divine
 In that one supreme device.
Though all else should pass away,
Faith shall find that sign its stay.

Come, then, darkness, suffering, loss;
 Come temptation, sorrow, death;
By that sign, the holy Cross,
 Faith forever conquereth;
And foretasting Life can say,
"I will trust Him, though He slay."