At the Portal

Standing at the portal
Of the opening year
Words of comfort meet us,
Hushing every fear;
Spoken through the silence
By our Father's voice.
Tender, strong and faithful,
making us rejoice:

"I, the Lord, am with thee;
Be thou not afraid!
I will keep and strengthen;
Be thou not dismayed!
Yea, I will uphold thee
With my own right hand;
Thou art called and chosen
In my sight to stand."

For the year before us,
Oh, what rich supplies!
For the poor and needy
Living streams shall rise,
For the sad and sinful
Shall His grace abound;
For the faint and feeble
Perfect strength be found.

He will never fail us,
He will not forsake;
His eternal covenant
He will never break!
Resting on His promise what have we to fear?
God is all-sufficient
For the coming year.


--Frances Ridley Havergal