Day 29 - 01/29/13

By and by,

when the morning comes,
When the saints of God
are gathered home,
We will tell the story
How we’ve overcome;
We will understand it better
by and by.

I have so many friends and loved ones who are facing hardships in their lives--cancer, illness, death, disappointment, failures, tragedies--and my heart has been so heavy for them all that I have had this song running over and over in my head for a few days. Just like scripture learned as a child, many times the old hymns are a solace for me in times of trouble.

We’ll Understand It Better By and By

Trails dark on every hand,

And we cannot understand

All the ways that God would lead us

to that blessed promised land;

But He’ll guide us with His eye,

And we’ll follow till we die,

We will understand it better

by and by.

Oft our cherished plans have failed,

Disappointments have prevailed,

And we’ve wandered in the darkness,

heavy-hearted and alone;

But we’re trusting in the Lord,

And according to His word,

We will understand it better

by and by.

Temptations, hidden snares

Often take us unawares,

And our hearts are made to bleed

for some thoughtless word or deed,

And we wonder why the test

When we try to do our best,

But we’ll understand it better

by and by.