Author: Karl Philipp Spitta (1801-1859) Composer: Hans Georg Nägeli (1773-1836)
1. Life has become so gloomy, So grievous is our woe, As if the Lord in heaven, No spark of love would show. As yet no pardon given, Earth can no peace afford; Yet weary hours thus striven Are blessings from the Lord.
2. We bear for Him a longing When left alone, oppressed; If we could but embrace Him, Forever hold Him fast! With weeping pleas and wrestles, As Jacob moved in soul, Until we win the conflict, And faith shall make us whole.
3. Thus we can feel how grievous Life without God would be; How wretched and how helpless, How full of poverty, We here would starve and famish If not our weeping soul The Lord in love would nourish, Would comfort and console.
4. The Lord at all times chooses The time His gifts to share; He sends a ray of solace To banish grief and care; He pours His gentle blessing Into the with’ring heart, And leads thru gloom and sadness To bright ways heavenward.
5. Our hearts would prove unfaithful, Would tire of Jesus’ love, If He the heavy burden ’Neath which on earth He strove For us and our transgressions In His meek lowliness, Should not lay on our shoulders To share His sore distress.
6. Therefore, learn thou His guidance Meekly to understand, When times of gloom and sadness Befall thee in this land. Soon shall descend from heaven His rich grace, as the dew, And make the dreary desert A meadow green and new.