12/05/20 Weekend Grif.Net - Failed Marriage
Robert Griffin
There are few failures more devastating than a failed marriage. At least that's how Pastor Ira Stanphill felt when his wife Zelma divorced him. Together in 1946 they had written a wonderful Christian hymn of invitation - "Room at the Cross for You”.
The cross upon which Jesus died,
Is a shelter in which we can hide;
And its grace so free is sufficient for me,
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea
Tho millions have found Him a friend,
And have turned from the sins they have sinned,
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcomes a sinner before it's too late.
The hand of my Savior is strong,
And the love of my Savior is long;
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.
chorus:
There's room at the cross for you,
There's room at the cross for you,
Tho millions have come, There's still room for one
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.
This song had reached tens of thousands of hearts for the Lord. Now, she was singing in nightclubs. Eventually she remarried and shortly thereafter, she died in an automobile accident.
Between the divorce and Zelma’s death, Ira reached a personal low in his life. He couldn't help wondering if he was an embarrassment to the Lord. With increasing frequency he considered leaving the ministry. One day, while in the depths of despair, he poured out his feelings to the Lord, and God birthed a new song in his heart.
In the decades since that day many a despairing person has found faith for the future while hearing or singing the words the Lord gave him. For out of the deepest pain he wrote: "Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand; but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand."
While in the valley of failure, that place where our self-image dies and everything looks lost, the great shepherd not only sustained Ira Stanphill but also used him to compose a song to comfort others in their darkest hour.
I don't know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine for its skies may turn to grey.
I don't worry o'er the future, for I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.
Every step is getting brighter as the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter, every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining, there no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow where the mountains touch the sky.
I don't know about tomorrow; it may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow is the one who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion may be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me and I'm covered with His blood.
chorus:
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow - and I know Who holds my hand.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
"Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!"