728--I have been through the valley of

I have been through the valley of

728

	1.	I have been through the valley of
		sorrow and weeping,
		The valley of trouble and pain;
		But the "God of all comfort," the "God
		of all comfort,"
		Was with me to hold and sustain.
	2.	As the earth needs the clouds and the
		rain with the sunshine,
		Our souls need both sorrow and joy,
		So He places us oft in the fire of
		affliction
		The dross from the gold to destroy.
	3.	When He leads thru the valleys of
		trouble and sorrow,
		His mercy and love there we trace;
		For the trials and sorrows He sends us
		in wisdom
		Are part of His lessons in grace.
	4.	Yet how often we shrink from the
		purging and pruning,
		Forgetting the Husbandman knows
		That the deeper and closer the cutting
		and paring,
		The richer the cluster that grows.
	5.	O how well does He know the
		afflictions are needed;
		He has a wise purpose in view,
		And within the dark valley He whispers
		to comfort,
		"Hereafter thou'lt know what I do."
	6.	As we travel the pathway thru life's
		shadowed valleys,
		Fresh springs of His love ever rise;
		And we learn that our troubles, our
		sorrows and losses,
		Are blessings just sent in disguise.
	7.	So we'll follow Him faithfully
		where'er He leadeth,
		The pathway be dreary or bright;
		For we've proved that our God is the
		"God of all comfort,"
		The God who gives songs in the night.