Joy and Peace in Believing

Photo by Jenny W, Honolulu

It’s been a very tough couple of days. My Daddy is not doing well. Mentally, he has some lucid moments but much of the time he is confused. He can remember certain things from 10-20 years but not what he ate just an hour ago. He has a hard time responding when we talk to him. He now seems to understand that his condition is terminal, but not how short his remaining time is. Physically, he is so thin….72 lbs. and very weak…he can’t eat or walk without assistance. It is incredibly difficult to see him like this.

Sometimes I feel the grief slamming my heart around and need to stop and take a deep breath.

There have been some sweet moments. The kids visited him yesterday and he lit up when they walked into the room. I saw a glimpse of the old Daddy. Sweet Elizabeth kept holding and stroking his hand. We took him in a wheelchair for a stroll on the beautiful hospital grounds. While we were outside, in front of a grassy slope and beneath large banyan trees, the kids sang three songs for him—Amazing Grace, Jesus Loves Me, and Your Love is Deep. Daddy had tears in his eyes and kept swallowing hard. I asked him for his favorite hymn, and he slowly replied, Amazing Grace, then added….”John Newton.” I couldn’t believe he remembered.

A few days ago I came across a poem by John Newton which really spoke to my heart. The title is from Romans 15:13, one of my favorite verses.

Joy and Peace in Believing
by John Newton

Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing in his wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation,
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new:
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let th' unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may.

It can bring with it nothing
But he will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe his people too:
Beneath the spreading heavens,
No creature but is fed;
And he who feeds the ravens,
Will give his children bread.

Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For while in him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13