The Miry Clay

Lord, I don't understand!
This is pain, torture, and I hate it!
Lord, why don't You give me a hand,
And lift me from this bottomless pit?

Lord, can't You see my world is crumbling?
Everything I once loved now seems meaningless.
Can't You help? Will You stop me from stumbling?
Please, make it quick and painless!

I know, I know, You're trying to teach me something,
But You are God. You can just give it to me!
It's not that I don't want to listen or anything;
I just want my problems to go away quick. Please let it be!

Don't worry if You don't have the perfect solution;
I already have one for You, right here!
All You have to do is use Your magic potion,
And get rid of everything quick. Nothing to fear!

You have told us, You have plans for us to prosper,
Plans not to hurt us, but give us a future I don't see.
I can't understand though! Maybe it's because You whisper.
This struggle I'm going through is painful! How can you continue to let it be?

"He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
But Lord, why couldn't you have just made us already perfect?
You could have made us any way You pleased. You can do anything for us!
If You had made us perfect, we would have no pain, and You wouldn't have to correct.

However, then we probably would be less dependant on You;
And that would be such a shame.
Each time you bring us out of the miry clay stronger, too.
And sometimes in order to learn our lesson, You have to bring us through pain.

Thanks for Your overflowing mercy!
How you have forgiven us time and time again!
Even after we whine because life is not a big, giant chocolate hersey.
You fill us with your amazing peace, as we cry out to you at half past ten.

You're always there for us!
You're always willing to fill our empty hearts with Your peace!
So why do we continue to worry about things and fuss?
There's no need. Your amazing love will never cease!

You will guide us through trials, through ways we don't understand.
But after the miry clay situation has past,
We realize You had much better things planned.
The quick fix we had in mind was wrong. Its solution will never last.

So teach us this day to hold on to your promises,
Don't give up hope, and constantly trust in You!
We'll find that where our arrow misses,
Yours will always be perfect, and so much better for us too!