While the wilderness we travel,
Nought save dreariness around,
Not a gleam of earthly sunshine,
Only storm and tempest found.
Rich the joy of surely knowing
Home and rest are all above!
Won by Him on earth a Stranger,—
Proving timeless, changeless love!
See Him stooping down from glory,
Lowly, humbled, sorrowing here;
Scorned of earth, by man rejected,
No bright spot His heart to cheer.
See Him all along His journey,
From the mountain to the cross,
Save His Fathers love – how lonely
Meeting shame, contempt, and loss.
Want and woe in man’s sad story
Never wearied His blest ear;
Widowed hearts and orphans sorrows
Found in Him relief and cheer.
See Him in His hour of travail,
Contrast to our path below;
We have Him for every sorrow,
He had nought save deepest woe.
Wrath of God in fiercest judgment,
Borne alone upon the tree;
Love that passeth every knowledge,
Now flows forth unstraitened, free.
Raised from death, His Father’s glory
Claims Him Victor for His throne
There alone His ransomed know Him,
There alone their joys and home.
Here they wander through death’s valley,
He beside them, yet on high;
They like Him on earth but strangers,
He with them for ever nigh.
Soon His shout will greet His pilgrims –
Welcome long-loved home and rest;
Now by faith enjoyed and entered,
Then with Him for ever blest.