Oh, why should we grumble and strain at our lot?
Or think that life’s pathways are hard?
Or that our afflictions are more than we need
From the hand of a merciful Lord?
It is good sometimes to hear—”Come ye apart”
And learn what the Master doth say;
Or, “Go up to Bethel,” and there call to mind
The “pillows” we had on the way.
Our “pillows” oft times seem hard and so cold,
And from them we’d fain flee away;
But the oil of His grace smoothes the stones in their place;
Then we try to look up and to say:—
“All praise to the grace of the glorious One:
All praise to the glorious Three:
Praise to Him for the “ladder” He has set up
For His poor erring children to see.”
Our “ladder” is Jesus: to Him we must look,
Although sin has blinded our eyes
And hardened our hearts to the way that is good;
And the world has oft all our desires.
But He is the great and glorious One,
Who to Jacob’s seed never yet said:
“Seek me in vain;” if only in faith, we come
To Him whose blood has been shed.
Margaret Houston.