Hope

The weight of life’s care would over-power; cripple

Demonic despair would devour our breath

Worry and wondering would banish the sparkle

Of laughter from summer; and light from the earth

On every side we are pressed and tormented

But we will conquer, our will undeterred

For we do not place our hope in the temporal

Our hope is in Jesus Christ the Lord

His goodness and mercy are not circumstantial

We cannot earn His forgiveness and grace

Our obedience imitates His example

As He humbled Himself and died in our place

Love lays the idol of self on the altar

Not for applause or for man’s vain reward

But through love’s sacrifice vile demons falter

If our hope is in Jesus Christ the Lord

Life is not merely a foot-shuffling motion

Of toiling and triumph, of gain or of loss

It is a moment by moment devotion

Poured in rejoicing at the foot of the cross

Time does not diminish Dominion 

It does not vanquish one jot of His word

We hope, with promise and expectation

For our hope is in Jesus Christ the Lord

Though evil may persecute, ravage and slaughter

It cannot comprehend the might

Or the hope which carries His sons and daughters

Into His marvelous kingdom of Light

To live is Christ, but to die is heaven

Where faith becomes sight and sight, hope’s reward

The weight of life’s care is but for a season

As our hope remains in Jesus Christ the Lord

© Janet Martin