Over a year ago, I wrote this poem as a triad juxtaposing self, faith, and the Lord. I revisited it tonight as it continues to minister to my heart, and in doing so, I restructured the triad, taking the lines and combining them so they would have a direct juxtaposition. It is less of a crescendo than the first—this restructuring provides needed, urgently apparent contrast to the three entities of self, faith, and the Lord.

Oh to hope, to place
Oh to surrender, to have
Oh to praise, to swell with
Trust
Faith
Love
In You who sees, in You
In You who knows, in You
For You who gives, for You
Who holds strongly, faithfully
Who carries gently, tenderly
Who births kindly, wonderfully
Bearing strength
Bearing mercy
Bearing justice
Wisdom, and
Grace, and
Revelation, and
Power beyond our days
Peace beyond ourselves
Compassion beyond our means
The days are finite and weak
We are weary and restless
You are beautiful and holy
We bear lackluster devotion
We lack stillness in quiet
You are meant to be revered in worship

Our efforts to sustain ourselves with
what is needed to replenish ourselves
Our whole selves
And we fail again
To hear You
End in You
And again.
Only You.
Only You.