Wherever I go, whateeer my task

1 Where'er I go, whate'er my task,
The counsel of my God I ask,
Who ruleth all things right;
Unless He give both thought and deed,
The utmost pains can ne'er succeed,
And vain must be man's might.

2 For what can all my toil avail?
My care, my watching,--all must fail,
Unless my God is there;
Then let Him order all for me
As in His will He shall decree,
On God I cast my care.

3 For naught can come, as naught has been,
But what my Father has forseen,
And what shall work my good;
Whate'er He gives me I will take,
Whate'er He chooses I will make
My choice with thankful mood.

4 I lean upon His mighty arm,
Which shieldeth me from every harm
And all calamity;
If in His precepts I shall live,
Whate'er is useful He will give;
Nothing can injure me.

5 But only may He of His grace
The record of my guilt efface,
And wipe out all my debt;
Though I have sinned He will not straight
Pronounce His judgment, He will wait,
Have patience with me yet.

6 I travel to a distant land
To serve the post wherein I stand,
Which He hath bid me fill;
And He will bless me with His light,
That I may serve His world aright,
And make me know His will.

7 And though through desert wilds I fare,
Yet Jesus Christ is with me there,
The Lord Himself is near;
In all my dangers He will come,
And He who kept me safe at home
Can keep me safely here.

8 Yes, He will speed me on my way,
And point me where to go and stay,
And help me still and lead;
Let me in health and safety live,
And time and win and weather give.
And whatsoe'er I need.

9 His holy angel being near,
My enemies I need not fear,
For He protects me well;
I owe it to my faithful Guide,
Who never yet hath left my side,
That I in peace may dwell.

10 When late at night my rest I take,
When early in the morn I wake,
Halting, or on my way,
In hours of weakness or in bonds,
When vexed with fears my heart desponds,
God's Word is e'er my stay.

11 Since then my course is traced by Him,
I will not fear that future dim,
But go to meet my doom,
Well knowing, naught awaits me there
Too hard for me through Him to bear;
All evil I o'ercome.

12 To Him myself I wholly give,
At His command I die or live,
I trust His love and power;
Whether to-morrow or to-day
His summons come, I will obey,
He knows the proper hour.

13 But if it please that love most kind,
And if this voice within my mind
Be whispering not in vain,
I yet shall praise my God ere long
In many a sweet and joyful song,
When in my home again.

14 To those I love will He be near,
With his consoling light appear,
Who is my Shield and theirs;
And He will grant beyond our thought
What they and I alike have sought
With tears and fervent prayers.


Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #372