'WAIT only upon God;' my soul, be still

   And let thy God unfold His perfect will,

       Thou fain would'st follow Him throughout this year,
       Thou fain with listening heart His voice would'st hear,
       Thou fain would'st be a passive instrument

   Possessed by God, and ever Spirit-sent

       Upon His service sweet--then be thou still
       For only thus can He in thee fulfil

   His heart's desire. Oh, hinder not His hand

        From fashioning the vessel He hath planned.
        Be silent unto God,' and thou shalt know
     The quiet, holy calm He doth bestow
       On these who wait on Him; so shalt thou bear
    His promises, and His life and light e'en where
      The night is darkest, and thine earthly days
      Shall shew His love, and sound His glorious praise
      And He will work with head unfettered, free
       His high and holy purposes through thee.
    First on thee must that hand of power be turned,
       Till in His love's strong fire thy dross is burned,
       And thou come forth a vessel for thy Lord,
    So frail and empty, yet, since He hath poured
       Into thine emptiness His life, His love
       Henceforth through thee the power of God shall move
    And He will work for thee. Stand still and see
       The victories thy God will gain for thee;
       So silent, yet so irresistible,
    Thy God shall do the thing impossible.
       Oh, question not henceforth what thou canst do;
    Thou canst do naught. But He will carry through
       The work where human energy had failed
      Where all thy best endeavours had availed
    Thee nothing. Then, my soul, wait and be still;
      Thy God shall work for thee His perfect will.
    If thou will take no less, His best shall be
    Thy portion now and through eternity.

   FREDA HANBURY