“When He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him.” John 10:4
He reached the rugged cross to me
It seemed to glow with light and love,
And eagerly I reached for it,
Longing by it my Lord to know.
But then my flesh recoiled in pain,
The cross was rugged, heavy, bare,
The light seemed blotted out in night,
The love seemed set my life beyond.
‘Twas then I heard His whisper sweet,
“My child, I bear this cross with you,
You will not take one step but that
My feet have been there long before.”
And so it was. At every step
I searched the dust that burned my feet
And found His footprints in that dust
Before His sheep the Shepherd went.
And soon that heavy, rugged cross
Grew light in fellowship with Him,
And as I trod that dusty path
My lips burst forth in song.
Not out of trial my Savior leads,
But through it, thus to lead
The soul that bears the cross with Him
To know a Friend indeed.