Romans 5

suffering
the long and weary road stretches in front of me
endless miles of pain
each step more arduous than the last
yet i walk through it
i know more acutely
the depths of Your love and intent of Your presence
the harder the road
the more i cling to You

perseverance
because its hard to pick up again
drag yourself into another day of this
but i do
by Your strength i do
You give me enough of You so i can
and each new day brings new peace
more resolve, more grace
a little more of You in me

character
i see You building it
when i take a good long hard look back
i see how each time hard things came
that was Your ultimate goal
You are growing me
in little ways and long struggles
in sleepless nights and battles with the enemy
Your gentle hands are fashioning beauty

hope
how i've been longing for it
and yet dreading it
freedom to soar
knowledge that this isn't all
a bigger dream and faith than i'd conjured
in my finite mind
but You knew no bounds
so You gave it freely, releasing my heart

no disappointment
immediately relief sweeps
over a tired and jaded heart
aching from so many let downs
Your promise rings true
You won't
and the rest and peace is bliss
knowing You'll always come through
no worry, no fear, no pain

Your Love
poured out, freely given
superfluity of grace
abundance of compassion
standard of justice
yet caring for the singular soul
it fills my chest to capacity
and spills with reckless abandon
blanketing the rest of this life