Faith That Smiles

FAITH THAT SMILES

by HELEN STEINER RICE



IT'S EASY TO SAY"IN GOD WE TRUST"
WHEN LIFE IS RADIANT AND FAIR,
BUT THE TEST OF FAITH IS ONLY FOUND
WHEN THERE ARE BURDENS TO BEAR.
FOR OUR CLAIM TO FAITH IN THE SUNSHINE
IS REALLY NO FAITH AT ALL,
FOR WHEN ROADS ARE SMOOTH AND DAYS ARE BRIGHT
OUR NEED FOR GOD IS SO SMALL.
AND NO ONE DISCOVERS THE FULLNESS
OR THE GREATNESS OF GODS LOVE
UNLESS THEY HAVE WALKED IN THE DARKNESS
WITH ONLY A LIGHT FROM ABOVE.
FOR THE FAITH TO ENDURE WHATEVER COMES
IS BORN OF SORROW AND TRIALS
AND STRENGTHENED ONLY BY DISCIPLINE
AND NURTURED BY SELF-DENIALS.
SO BE NOT DISHEARTENED BY TROUBLES,
FOR TRIALS ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS
ON WHICH TO ERECT A FORTRESS OF FAITH
SECURE ON GOD'S AGELESS ROCKS.





THOU DOST KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE,
WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE, BECAUSE
HE TRUSTS IN THEE.



ISAIAH 26:3







HOW PRECIOUS IS YOUR
LOVINGKINDNESS, O GOD!
THEREFORE THE CHILDREN OF MEN
PUT THEIR TRUST UNDER THE
SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS.



PSALM 36:7
NKJV



HOW PRECIOUS ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ME,
O GOD! THEY ARE INNUMERABLE!



PSALM 139:17
NRSV



HE WILL SAVE THEM FROM OPPRESSION AND
FROM VIOLENCE, FOR THEIR LIVES ARE
PRECIOUS TO HIM.



PSALM 72:14
TLB



LET THE KINDNESS OF THE LORD OUR GOD
BE WITH US. MAKE US SUCCESSFUL IN
EVERYTHING WE DO. YES, MAKE US
SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING WE DO.



PSALM 90:17
GOD'S WORD