Light Shining Out of Darkness
William Cowper (1731-1800)
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints fresh courage take—
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r,
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
I love the picture you paired with this poem! It’s so majestic, and suits the imagery of the poem in such a striking way.
By the way, I enjoyed the other Richard Wilbur poems, especially “C Minor”.
I love this hymn! Always reminds me of the TV Show, Touched by an Angel, because the African-American angel is always singing this! So sweet!
Very true, Maureen! Majestic is the word! Also, I am glad to see someone else is contributing to the discussions besides me and “Admin”!
Thank you, Maureen and Fiona, for your comments! I enjoy art and poetry, and am glad this blog is providing an opportunity for me to share and discuss with others. Remember that you can submit your own favorite poems and artwork, and I will consider featuring them on “Wrestle with an Angel.”