Hymn of the Week: Your Strength is Perfect

We're studying Paul's travels in the book of Acts during our Sunday sermons, and this week's passage had me reflecting on the difficulties and trials of the great apostle's journey. So I decided to write a hymn that gives voice to some of Paul's reflections on those things: I've drawn the lyrics below from his statements in 2 Corinthians 1:6-9, 4:7-9, 4:17, and 12:7-10. I wanted a tune that struck a thoughtful tone of hope-in-lament, so I've borrowed the music from the classic hymn "Abide with Me."

Your Strength is Perfect

When in distress, when sufferings abound,
When my endurance falters to the ground,
When this life's comforts all abandon me,
Your strength is perfect for me when I'm weak.

I am hard-pressed, perplexed, and stumbling down,
Yet in all this, I know where hope is found:
You guard my way, You won't abandon me;
Your strength is perfect for me when I'm weak.

Vainly would I lean on my strength of will:
I am too weak, this jar of clay too frail;
Yet through its earthen cracks Your grace I see--
Your strength is perfect for me when I'm weak.

Lord, I would have You take my thorn away,
Release me from the torment of its pain;
Yet You give grace sufficient for my need:
Your strength is perfect for me when I'm weak.

Now, for Christ's sake, I glory to be weak,
For these my light and momentary griefs
Are all outweighed by Your eternal peace;
Your strength is perfect for me when I'm weak.