Look Not Around

O my soul, look not around
   at waves and winds and storms and din;
   the chasm wide—so yawning wide—
   would sink your soul therein.
You cannot ignore such dreadful news,
   the clamor of the day, the tumult all at play:
   the ruckus screams with agitation,
   blares its noise with fell frustration,
   to sweep your calm and peace away.

Yet look not to the waves that roar,
   the wind that howls and rains that pour;
look not to earth for peace of heart,
   nor to your self for strength to chart
        your way to peace and calm and more.

You look around; your soul will sink
   like adamant through water to its grave;
Look instead to Him and think—
   recall His mercy and love will save
        you from your sins and bring you up to Him.

O my soul, consider Christ in fond affection:
   His mercies and His love, His faithfulness thereof,
   His redemption which spanned that yawning chasm wide,
   that kept you far from Him and His blessings therein.
Look to Jesus who bids you rise and conquer in His name:
   This Jesus who is risen and now in heaven given
   a Name above all other names,
   who with glory and holy beauty acclaimed,
   who is our Path, our Goal, our Aim,
   Directs and holds our hands and names us Forgiven—
      He is your Peace, your Comfort, your sure Defense.
O my soul, in His Love let your life be hidden
   till His Peace and Calm sweep all your cares away.

- D. Benning