Weekly Hymn

I can't remember when we last had a weekly hymn but in Kenya this hymn by Jane Crewdson caught my eye:

Lord, we know that Thou art near us,

Though Thou seem’st to hide Thy face;

And are sure that Thou dost hear us,

Though no answer we embrace.

Not one promise shall miscarry

Not one blessing come too late

Though the vision long may tarry

Give us patience, Lord to wait.

While withholding—Thou art giving

In Thine own appointed way

And while waiting we’re receiving

Blessings suited to our day.

O the wondrous loving-kindness

Planning, working out of sight,

Bearing with us in our blindness,

Out of darkness bringing light.

Weaving blessings out of trials,

Out of grief evolving bliss;

Answering prayer by wise denials

When Thy children ask amiss.

And when faith shall end in vision,

And when prayer is lost in praise,

Then shall love, in full fruition,

Justify Thy secret ways.

According to Wikipedia Crewdson lived 1808-1863 and was a poet born in Perran-arworthal, Cornwall. She was the second daughter of one George Fox. She was married at Exeter, in October 1836, to Thomas Dillworth Crewdson, a Manchester manufacturer. She contributed several hymns to Lovell Squire's Selection of Scriptural Poetry, 1848; and in 1851 published a small volume of poems, entitled Aunt Jane's Verses for Children, which was twice reprinted (1855, 1871). In 1860 she issued a second work, Lays of the Reformation, and other Lyrics, scriptural and Miscellaneous. After her death at Summerlands, Whalley Range, Manchester, a further selection of her poetical pieces was published under the title of A Little While and other Poems (Manchester, 1864). (The cyberhymnal lists 13 of her hymns with words available to several).