I FINALLY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
TO LOVE YOU THROUGH MY DESPAIR.
TO LOVE YOU THROUGH THE HURT,
WHEN I CAN’T SEE YOU ANYWHERE.

TO LOVE YOU, BUT STILL WONDER
WHY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.
TO LOVE YOU EVEN THOUGH I FEEL
SO FAR AWAY FROM YOU.

TO TRUST IN YOU WHEN DARKNESS
SEEMS TO COVER THE WHOLE SKY,
TO HOPE IN YOU, TO FOLLOW,
TO LET YOU COMFORT ME WHEN I CRY.

I’M LEARNING HOW TO HOPE IN YOU
WHEN ALMOST ALL HOPE IS GONE.
TO TRUST YOU’RE STILL HERE
WHEN IT FEELS LIKE I’M ALONE.

I’M LEARNING HOW TO TRUST YOU
WHEN WAITING IS WHERE I’VE STAYED…
EVEN THOUGH EACH AND EVERY NIGHT
ALL I’VE DONE IS PRAYED AND PRAYED.

I’VE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU TO COME,
FOR YOU TO ANSWER MY PRAYERS…
AND I’LL KEEP ASKING, I’LL KEEP HOPING,
THOUGH I CAN’T SEE YOU ANYWHERE.

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE HERE, LORD
I KNOW ALONE I’LL NEVER BE…
BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU’D NEVER LEAVE,
AND THAT YOU’D ALWAYS BE NEAR ME.

THIS WAITING I’VE BEEN DOING, GOD
CAN HURT SO MUCH SOME DAYS…
I WONDER IF I’VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG…
IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY WAYS.

BUT I REMEMBER THAT LIFE HAPPENS.
YOU CAUSE GOOD AND BAD TO RAIN.
AND LORD, I WILL STILL CLING TO YOU,
THROUGH ALL THE JOY AND PAIN.

JESSICA NICOLE SCHAFER
December 20, 2008