This poem was written to the Stevens family in St. Ives in 1934 by F. W. Lavington, on the occasion of a bad storm that overtook the Stevens brothers when they were out fishing, and resulted in one of the brothers losing his life. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him” (Nah. 1:7).
The Lord is good. Yea! none is good as He,
Who called us from our darkness to His light,
Gave us to know His Son, and ever be
Conformed to His image in His sight.
He is our stronghold in earth’s darkest hour,
When seas run high and tempests shake the soul:
His way is perfect, and no adverse power
Can swerve His purpose from the eternal goal.
“He knoweth,” yes, He knoweth all the way
We take; each heavy trial is to mould
Our wills to His, that we can truly say,
“When He shall try me, I come forth as gold.”
“He knoweth them that trust Him,” and His love
Is worthy of our confidence entire;
His end will show in those bright realms above
The full accomplishment of all desire.
Yea! Thou art good, our Father, and our lines
Are fallen in pleasant places. Give us grace
To know that for Thy glory all combines
And for our good, until we see His face.
F. W. Lavington (1934)
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).