Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Someone jumped in front of a train behind my apartment tonight. I'd be lying if I said it isn't getting to me. It causes me to reflect on the difficult things of this life. Any response to things like this is inevitably...inconsiderate. What do you say to a friend who lost a family member? Or to a community grieving a loss you do not share? Most people are too soon to speak.

I thought about writing something here, but all I could pen was too trite. I think this one reason God has given us music. This song says much more beautifully what I would stumble over.

1. Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies
To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,
For every pain I feel

2. But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to Thee
Though prostrate in the dust

3. Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
No still the ear of sovereign grace,
Attends the mourner's prayer
Oh may I ever find access,
To breathe my sorrows there

4. Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet,
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet.

-Anne Steele