Out of the Deep: A Prayer

1. Out of the deep, I cry to you, O Lord!
Out of the deep of darkness and distress;
I cannot, will not doubt your blessed Word,
O God of rightoeusness.

2. I cry, my God, and I know you will heed,
For you have promised you would hear my cry.
I have no words to tell my deepest need.
You know it, O Most High.

3. You know all of my pain, the agony,
The grief I strive so vainly to express.
Oh, let your shelt'ring wings spread over me,
Great God of tenderness.

4. I cannot, cannot cease to make my plea,
For oh, my God, this heart is not my own,
And as the streams press ever to the sea,
My heart turns to your throne.

5. And when too weak to lift my voice, I lie
In utter silence at your blessèd feet,
You know that silence is my deepest cry,
Your throne, my last retreat.

6. And should you keep your face away from me,
My heart, tho’ shattered, evermore would grope
Out thru’ the darkness, searching endlessly,
O God, my only hope!

Source: Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship (African American Edition) #31a