Days of darkness and distress

Days of darkness and distress
Are my portion here below;
Thorny is the wilderness,
And the Lord will have it so.

When enlarged in faith and prayer,
His dear face by faith I see,
On the Lord I cast my care,
Satisfied he cares for me.

But when days of darkness come,
And my heart is hard and cold,
Round the wilderness I roam,
Barren, wandering from the fold.

Days of fierce temptation too,
Furious as the foaming wave,
Hide the heavens from my view,
Threatening a watery grave.

Up I cast my longing eyes,
Tossed like Jonah in the sea;
Jesus whispers from the skies,
"As thy days, thy strength shall be!"