Aug 1, 2008

A prayer for a friend

We don't get to choose the people we know each day or friends we wanna keep for life. Every day we meet people from all walks of life. Some are courteous while some are not. While many last for today, a few last for a lifetime.

Today, I want to say a prayer for a friend. Someone I know only recently. Someone who was supposed to work with me as my teaching assistant has now become my friend. In her darkest moments of her life, she felt the world has collapsed right in her face. She would have given up hope to live and to carry on, if not for her three lovely children.

Evening sun by the river.

To my friend, A, I say this prayer of hope to you. May you draw strength from above. And there is more to life than pain and sorrow.

What God Has Promised

God has not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives thro’;
God has not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.

God has not promised
We shall not know
Toil and temptation,
Trouble and woe;
He has not told us
We shall not bear
Many a burden,
Many a care.

But God has promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.

By Annie Johnson Flint

6 comments:

Rei said...

Thanks for sharing this Gina.

Gina Choong said...

rei, its my best loved hymn. Something I would read to myself once in awhile for days when I really feel depressed, unloved, or unwanted and that no one here care or wants to care. I hope everyone finds peace and hope reading this too.

Chawanmushi said...

It's a lovely prayer Gina.
I do pray that your friend find peace in her heart too.
Thanks for sharing it here :-)

Anonymous said...

Thanks Gina, I love the poem too. Here's mine that I read when I feel down ....

Jehovah Jireh (God Provides)
He will provide - not always green pastures,
Not always the waters of stillness and rest,
Not always a pathway unclouded and easy,
Not always with human companionship blest.

He will provide - not always my longings,
Not always the service so gladly I'd give,
Not always the wings that mount up as an eagle,
Not always in power and triumph to live.

But He will provide - all I need for my journey,
His strength when the way becomes rugged and steep,
His help when I wrestle with doubt and temptation,
His balm for my heartache - His love when I weep.

And He will provide - for my failure His pardon,
Through the clouds and the darkness the light of His face,
For my hunger the bread and the wine of communion,
For my daily frustrations His Fragrance and Grace.

And always His Presence, unseen but abiding,
And always His guidance, each step of my way,
Until in the Home which His grace has provided
I shall dwell in His likeness through unending day.

Have a Blessed day,
Sandra

Gina Choong said...

Sandra, thank you so much for that too. Going to copy n paste into a document, and print it out! For my friend too..

Anonymous said...

Gina,
You are a wonderful friend for your friend. Blessed is he/she who walks in the ways of the Lord!

May our Mighty and Powerful God who is above all and everything bless us all this day and everyday!