Sharing a Poem #1

The essence of some blog posts takes quite a long time to brew inside me, and then only gradually makes it out into the written piece. There's one in formation at present, but it'll be a while until it's ready to put out there.

This evening I stumbled across a poem I wrote around 5 years ago and haven't widely shared, so I thought I could share it as a briefer-than-usual post. I'm calling it #1 in case I decide to post another sometime!

The poem is entitled 'If I were a Psalmist', and takes its inspiration from the way that various Psalms (in the Bible) engage with questions and struggles, and often point towards God's goodness. If you haven't tried reading any, I'd recommend it.

       If I were a psalmist,

       I'd have written one today:

       The kind that asks big questions

       As though God's far away.

       Some reading it would wonder

       What this is all about,

       "If such a faith does that to her,

       I'd rather do without!"

       My psalm would start in circles,

       With, "Why?" "What if?" and, "Really?"

       And if you only read a bit

       You'd think that I could nearly

       Sack off this Jesus-loving life

       And following His call,

       Or maybe love Him just a bit

       Instead of with my all.

       But when I do imagine

       That I'd like a get-out clause,

       Or on days when I really want

       A week of pressing pause,

       I tell God all about it!

       I give Him all my grief!

       I need not wear a plastic smile

       Of saccharine belief.

       I bring my pain and struggle

       To the One who knows it all;

       I rant or weep, or both, and then

       Into His arms I fall.

       So, if I were a psalmist,

       I'd round it off with praise

       For God who walks beside me,

       Through bright or gloomy days.

       I'd tell you there's no greater life

       Than He alone can give:

       Oh people, hope in Jesus

       And you will truly live.⬦

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