Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make;
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take;
What parched grounds refresh as with a shower!
We kneel—when all around us seems to lower;
We rise—and all, the distant and the near
Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear;
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others, that we are not always strong;
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious and troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?
Richard Chevenix Trench (1807-86)
**Poem found in The Elisabeth Elliot Newsletter from March/April 1999