When Sorrow Comes

When sorrow comes, as come it must
In God a man must place his trust
There is no power in mortal speech
The anguish of his soul to reach
No voice, however sweet and low
Can comfort him or ease the blow

He cannot from his fellow men
Take strength that will sustain him then
With all that kindly hands will do
And all that love may offer, too
He must believe throughout the test
That God has willed it for the best

We who would be his friends are dumb
Words from our lips but feebly come
We feel, as we extend our hands
That one Power only understands
And truly knows the reason why
So beautiful a soul must die

We realize how helpless then
Are all the gifts of mortal men
No words which we have power to say
Can take the sting of grief away
That Power which marks the sparrow's fall
Must comfort and sustain us all

When sorrow comes, as come it must
In God, a man must place his trust
With all the wealth which he may own
He cannot meet the test alone
And only he may stand serene
Who has a faith on which to lean