Gracious Father, Must It Be?—Don Fortner

(Tune: Take My Life and Let It Be #393—77.77)

Gracious Father, must it be, is it Your all-wise decree,

That these trials our way attend to our earthly journey’s end?

Must the heirs of grace and peace, be relentlessly harrassed,

Every night and every day, by tormenting beasts of prey?

Yes, our sorrows, sins, and woes, the believers’ way oppose:

Inward evils ever swell and our foes in league with hell!

Though we’re weak, if faith is true, we will every storm pass through,

Scorning even earthly good, if opposed to Christ, our God.

Saving faith will yet esteem the reproaches of the Lamb

Riches greater than the earth’s greatest store and greatest worth.

We this choice must daily make, to endure for Jesus’ sake,

The reproaches of His cross, counting all things else but dross.