God Holds the Key

God holds the key of all unknown,
And I am glad;
If other hands should hold the key,
Or if He trusted it to me,
I might be sad, I might be sad.

What if tomorrow’s cares were here
Without its rest!
I’d rather He unlocked the day;
And, as the hours swing open, say,
“My will is best, My will is best.”

The very dimness of my sight
Makes me secure;
For, groping in my misty way,
I feel His hand; I hear Him say,
“My help is sure, My help is sure.”

I cannot read His future plans;
But this I know;
I have the smiling of His face,
And all the refuge of His grace,
While here below, while here below.

Enough! this covers all my wants,
And so I rest!
For what I cannot, He can see,
And in His care I saved shall be,
Forever blest, forever blest.

This particular hymn was written by an English Clergyman, Joseph Parker in the 1800’s.  Mr. Parker was a contemporary of Charles Spurgeon, and was a “champion of the poor, uneducated, and underprivileged.”  Although Mr. Parker authored many books and sermons, this is the only “known” hymn written by Mr. Parker.  I really enjoy the picture of God holding the key of the “unknown.”  Although we live in a world of “unknowns,” we can rest in the fact that God is in control of everything.  We don’t have to worry about what we will eat or drink from day to day.  We don’t have to worry about a sickness that might befall us when we are older.  We don’t have to worry about who will take care of our children and our grandchildren.  We can rest in the fact that there is no “unknown” to God.  He knows and holds the future in His hands.

Couple of comments on the lyrics:

• “Or if He trusted it to me, I might be sad” – Two thoughts on this lyric.  First, the burden of carrying the weight of such heavy decisions would be impossible for anyone to bear.  To think that I would have the responsibility to make eternal decisions for myself or for others is an impossible burden to carry.  Secondly, the thought that every one of my decisions would have to be 100% good, and right, and just, and loving.  It is impossible for to make the right decision in my own life every day.  Much less thinking about ordering the steps of the righteous around the world.  I, too, would be sad, burdened, overwhelmed, etc. if He entrusted that kind of responsibility to me.

• “For, groping in my misty way” – To “grope” means to “search blindly or uncertainly.”  Isn’t that what we sometimes do in life?  We search blindly.  We go down paths uncertainly when we try to do things on our own.  Our “misty eyes” blur our vision.  Our sadness and weeping can impact how clearly we see certain situations.  But the author reminds us that we can feel His Hand, and hear His voice during those “misty” times.  What a powerful thought!  Our Shepherd leading us beside the still waters, and leading us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Our Shepherd guiding us with His hand and His voice.

This song is a reminder that God is in control of the “unknown.” Sometimes, I think it is important, however, in the midst of all the “unknowns” in this world, to remind ourselves of what we can, and should, know according to His word.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

2 Timothy 1:12 – “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”

Exodus 6:7 – “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”

Psalms 46:10 – “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalms 100:3 – “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.