Perfect Peace

I LOOK NOT BACK – God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning and regrets,
I leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And graciously forgives, and then forgets.

I LOOK NOT FORWARD – God sees all the future,
The road that short or long, will lead me home;
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burden that may come.

I LOOK NOT AROUND ME – then would fears assail me,
So wild the tumult of life's restless sea;
So dark the world, so filled with war and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort and of ease.

I LOOK NOT INWARD – that would make me wretched,
For I have naught on which to stay my trust;
Nothing I see but failures and shortcomings,
And weak endeavors crumbling into dust.

BUT I LOOK UP – UP into the face of JESUS!
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled.

– Selected.