Jonah

Where can I flee from Your Spirit's gaze? In what deep hold conceal my soul's despair? When You within Your plan's eternal maze Set me a task that's light beyond compare.

Though I'm a stranger, wanderer on earth, In Your decisions much I cannot know, I cannot hide, as Jonah's second birth— Who slept while ships to distant Tarshish go.

From God there is no possibility to flee, He'll bring us back to Him when comes the call, Why wait in peace for storms we'll come to see, Which will descend upon us like a squall.

We can but close ourselves away from men, That they may not disturb or lecture us, Yet in so doing, you will not attain True wisdom—life will end in grief, not bliss!

But joy resides in this: that memory Cannot erase the blessed day of grace, When souls broke free from death's captivity, And found salvation in that holy place.

When Christ the Messiah, God's own Son, Did not spare His own body from the cross, Ascended there and died for everyone, That faith might bloom from my profound remorse.

And with it I receive the blessed right To live with God, a family member true: To do good works with love and might, A guide to heaven's kingdom breaking through!

Show through my deeds what Jesus Christ has done, That virtue strengthens faith's foundation deep, For this the effort must be truly won— Zeal, diligence, the vigil we must keep.

And prudence—'tis not curse of too much mind, And temperance—a faithful guard of flesh, And patience—walls most mighty we shall find, That help us bear life's trials afresh.

Build labor on the ground of godliness, And brotherly love shall embrace like bride, Bear love aloft like banner to confess, And enter heaven's home with open stride!

Therefore, wherever I may chance to go, And where the storms may toss me to and fro, I'm grateful, Lord, that You have found me so, And Golgotha has conquered death's cold woe!