The End Of The Road Is Just A Bend In The Road

THE END OF THE ROAD IS BUT
A BEND IN THE ROAD

by HELEN STEINER RICE



WHEN WE FEEL WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO
GIVE AND WE ARE SURE THAT THE "SONG HAS ENDED"-
WHEN OUR DAY SEEMS OVER AND THE SHADOWS FALL
AND THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT HAS DESCENDED.
WHERE CAN WE GO TO FIND THE STRENGTH
TO VALIANTLY KEEP ON TRYING,
WHERE CAN WE FIND THE HAND THAT WILL
DRY THE TEARS THAT THE HEART IS CRYING-
THERE'S BUT ONE PLACE TO GO AND THAT IS TO GOD
AND, DROPPING ALL PRETENSE AND PRIDE,
WE CAN POUR OUT OUR PROBLEMS WITHOUT
RESTRAINT AND GAIN STRENGTH WITH HIM AT OUR SIDE-
AND TOGETHER WE STAND AT LIFE'S CROSSROADS
AND VIEW WHAT WE THINK IS THE END,
BUT GOD HAS A MUCH BIGGER VISION
AND HE TELLS US IT'S ONLY A BEND-
FOR THE ROAD GOES ON AND IS SMOOTHER,
AND THE "PAUSE IN THE SONG" IS A "REST,"
AND THE PART THAT'S UNSUNG AND UNFINISHED
IS THE SWEETEST AND RICHEST AND BEST-
SO REST AND RELAX AND GROW STRONGER,
LET GO AND LET GOD SHARE YOUR LOAD,
YOUR WORK IS NOT FINISHED OR ENDED,
YOU'VE JUST COME TO "A BEND IN THE ROAD."







O LORD, YOU LIGHT
MY LAMP.
MY GOD TURNS MY
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT



PSALM 18:28
GOD'S WORD



LIGHT IS SOWN FOR THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND GLADNESS FOR THE UPRIGHT IN HEART.



PSALM 97:11
KJV



I WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN YOU;
I WILL SING PRAISE TO YOUR NAME,
O MOST HIGH.



PSALM 9:2
NIV



BUT LET THE GODLY REJOICE.
LET THEM BE GLAD IN GOD'S PRESENCE.
LET THEM BE FILLED WITH JOY.



PSALM 68:3
NLT



YOU BESTOW ON HIM BLESSINGS FOREVER;
YOU MAKE HIM GLAD WITH THE JOY OF YOUR PRESENCE.



PSALM 21:6
NRSV



OH, SEND OUT YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR TRUTH!
LET THEM LEAD ME;
LET THEM BRING ME TO YOUR HOLY HILL
AND TO YOUR TABERNACLE.



PSALM 43:3
NKJV



INDEED, YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS.
FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR NAME, LEAD ME AND GUIDE ME.



PSALM 31:3
GOD'S WORD



THE LORD IS YOUR PROTECTION;
YOU HAVE MADE GOD MOST HIGH
YOUR PLACE OF SAFETY.



PSALM 91:9
NCV



HE WILL ABIDE BEFORE GOD FOREVER;
APPOINT LOVINGKINDNESS AND TRUTH,
THAT THEY MAY PRESERVE HIM.



PSALM 61:7
NAS



FOR IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE
HE WILL KEEP ME SAFE IN HIS DWELLING;
HE WILL HIDE ME IN THE SHELTER
OF HIS TABERNACLE
AND SET ME HIGH UPON A ROCK.



PSALM 27:5
NIV