I've Seen (You Sustain)

(I've been reading Ecclesiates. Obviously.)

Under the sun I've seen

More than once...

A lovely young lady be taken too soon

Perhaps preventable

Leaving helpless lives behind,

A precious young life snuffed out

Before it was given a chance

No first breath ever came,

Beloved Godly grandparents die

Vanishing into thin veils of the people they were

Their bodies ravished by disease,

Relationships hit rough waters

Though both parties knew You

Still hearts were hurt,

I've seen faithful servants suffer

With no way to put food on the table

Their prayers never faltering.

Yet I know what the great king never knew...

And somehow the assurance

"God would not inflict pain thus on all His children,

He knows whom He may trust,"

Is both enough to know and too little

Balm for the ache in my heart

For those whose lives touch mine

No matter in how little ways.

Yet I know You are faithful, You are still good.

Your strength is more than enough for me.

Your grace is sufficient.

No matter what I've seen

I know You've seen worse

And You'll sustain me like You have them.

There is nothing and no one else.

Basically You are the be all and end all.

I need not know how or why

I need only know that You love me

And that Love makes all the difference.

Because of it I might swim rivers

Though I fear their depths

And my very core panics at the thought

As my toes slip from their shaky hold

In a mighty rush into the stream's current

I know You hold me afloat

Nothing may hold me under

The pressure thrusting air

From already weakened lungs

I find You become my breath in those times.

I've seen, under the sun

More than once...

A beautiful weathered face walk

Gracefully to the shores of death

Pause not for a looking back

At this Sodom and Gomorrah that earth becomes

And that look of peace as they see their Savior;

And I've seen God heal and restore

Relationships that, reasonably,

No one would have given hope

Love lives once more

Where only desolation had set up home;

I've seen You come through

Needs met in the nick of time

And daily bread never lacking

As Your saints hit their knees

Growing stronger with their testimonies;

And the joy of that cry

As for the first time

The contented infant sits in her arms

Cradled in a mother's love

And she knows more of Your love for her's.

And I've seen You

More than once...

Over and over

In fact

Prove Yourself faithful

Show Yourself powerful

Love perfectly

Strengthen completely

Be sufficient

Just enough.

I've seen You sustain.