A Desert Place

Spiritual Lessons 

A Desert Place 

Open doors have thrilled my heart

Yet familiar are the closed ones

Lonely paths my chosen lot

With weary steps unwelcomed

And yet here in this desert place

Upheld by His scarred hands

I've learned some lessons dear to me

That came by trudging sand 

And in shadow, as in sunshine

He's been a friend to me

Somehow in my small weaknesses

I'm able to praise and sing

But only if I remember 

To stop my lips and heart

From speaking out and murmuring

The thoughts of grief that form

Is it unfair for our Potentate

to ask for hopes and dreams?

Or take from us our very life

the treasure we esteem?

He's asked of me some precious things

My health, my love, my hopes

Without a promised guarantee 

of restoration shown 

To be broken, sick and hurting

is something hard to bear

But to stand out ill and ugly

is a harder mark to wear

To love someone in silence

is grief unknown by some

and for someone not to love you back

is day without the sun

And yet these are the things He's asked

The doors He meant to close

Things He knew would draw me near 

A desert that He chose

And if my Savior asks of me

Know gladly I can give

For it prepares my timid heart

For Him through me to live

I must give it all to Jesus

My hurt, my tears, my shame

He's the only one to bear them

Lord, I'm waiting on Your name

TLH