Another Day For Grace

I am not who I think I am. . .

Hymn 30

John Newton

Why should I complain?

When my Savior, my Shepherd is near, How quickly my sorrows depart! New beauties around me appear, New spirits enliven my heart: His presence gives peace to my soul, And Satan assaults me in vain; While my Shepherd his pow’r controls, I think I no more shall complain

But alas! what a change do I find, When my Shepherd withdraws from my sight? My fears all return to my mind, My day is soon changed into night: Then Satan his efforts renews To vex and ensnare me again; All my pleasing enjoyments I lose, And can only lament and complain.

By these changes I often pass through, I am taught my own weakness to know; I am taught what my Shepherd can do, And how much to his mercy I owe: It is he who supports me through all, When I faint he revives me again; He attends to my prayer when I call, And bids me no longer complain.

Wherefore then should I murmur and grieve? Since my Shepherd is always the same, And has promised he never will leave Jer 1:19 The soul that confides in his name: To relieve me from all that I fear, He was buffeted, tempted, and slain; And at length he will surely appear, Though he leaves me awhile to complain.

While I dwell in an enemy’s land,

Can I hope to be always in peace?

’Tis enough that my Shepherd’s at hand,

And that shortly this warfare will cease;

For ere long he will bid me remove

Rev 2:10

From this region of sorrow and pain,

To abide in his presence above,

And then I no more shall complain.