Till Faith is Turned to Sight...

It is not by aught that meets the eye, 
That we choose to walk the narrow way, 
For no hint of rest or pleasure is there, 
To brighten its grim, weary trails. 
 
Nor by wonders or marvels we see, 
Do we hope in God and eternity, 
For often there is no earthly sign, 
That tells of His presence and His might. 
 
For the path is often bleak and grey, 
With not a tiny beam to light the way, 
Gone are rays of hope to cheer the eye, 
And empty darkness greets our sight. 
 
So often our suffering is so great, 
And the eye too weary to gaze on heaven’s gates, 
For all mortal wretchedness clouds the eye, 
And dims the vision divinely inscribed. 
 
Such times it is by what the heart believes, 
In spite of what the eyes have seen, 
That we trust in God, His precious name, 
And the rich promises that he hath gave. 
 
For by this wondrous gift of faith, 
And the blessed hope that it gave, 
Though no grand wonders we might see, 
Our souls can rest peacefully. 
 
So just as by faith, the men of old, 
Saw that which their eyes could not behold, 
And believed in all that their God proclaimed, 
Till their sight was blessed with the fruit of their faith. 
 
Thus, even in the deepest gloom, 
Our hearts will trust in His unfailing love, 
Even as our eyes may fail, 
The race is run by the shield of faith.