The press of daily cares seemed
sometimes to squeeze so hard
that I would almost lose my breath --
The heaviness of the burden of
responsibility weighed me
down so that I almost had to crawl --
I look around me and see mountains
closing in around me
blocking out the sun --
Where is the joy I knew
the patient peaceful trust
that clearly opened pathways before me?
I looked around and hope was gone
I trusted what I saw and I
believed in what I said --
My faith was based in my own
predictions and the fear
of disappointment --
Somewhere along my journey I had
chosen to turn toward discouragement
and away from dreams --
At some point along my way hope
was no longer held tightly
as the precious gem it is --
As I take stock of my house
and what it holds
within its walls --
I realize that in the movement from
day to day in the
pushing, pulling, drifting --
I have been robbed --
The thief so cunning, so sly
came quietly undetected
I never knew he was near --
Softly he crept in distracting me
with guilt and keeping my
attention on condemning words --
I didn't feel my hope being
stolen from my heart,
I didn't sense the void --
The place had expertly been filled
by the master thief with the
putty of worldly cares --
But, I praise my Lord and give Him thanks
for He would not leave me
in that state --
He revealed to me and made it plain
what fears' affects have been --
How clear I see, when through His eyes,
the crime that has taken place --
Now in His strength
and with His help
I'll take back my treasured hope --
Hope is the basis
of the faith God has placed in me --
I must guard it
and protect it as a valued prize --
I can never accomplish
anything I can not hope for --
I can never believe
anything I can not hope for --
I can never expect
anything I can not hope for --
For faith is the substance
of things hoped for,
and the evidence of things unseen --
My hope reclaimed
and faith in tact
I confidently face today --
Assured that the pressure
I feel is not the weight of
cares upon me --
But the protective cover my Lord
has placed around me
keeping harm away --
He is precious
He is wonderful
He is gracious
He is good
He is kind
And He has promised that He
will be with me always --
My faith and my hope
can be anchored in
that promise forever!
PJ Pettit 1996
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