Bear with me- if you don’t love poetry, this may not be your cup of tea- but I loved it. It was written many years ago by William Cowper, a friend of John Newton (author of Amazing Grace and Cowper’s pastor). Something else to take note of- Cowper battled manic-depression (bi-polar disorder) much of his adult life and often questioned his own salvation. But listen to the hope that comes through in his writing- and let his hope grow yours. This excerpt from his poem, The Task, looks forward to the Day when Jesus restores all things to their original intent and purpose.

The groans of Nature in this nether world,

Which Heaven has heard for ages, have an end,

Foretold by prophets, and by poets sung,

Whose fire was kindled at the prophets’ lamp.

The time of rest, the promised Sabbath comes!

Rivers of gladness water all the earth,

And clothe all climes with beauty. The reproach

Of barrenness is past. The fruitful field

Laughs with abundance; and the land, once lean

Or fertile only in its own disgrace,

Exults to see its thistly curse repeal’d.

The various seasons woven into one,

And that one season an eternal spring,

The garden fears no blight, and needs no fence,

For there is none to covet, all are full.

The lion, and the leopard, and the bear,

Graze with the fearless flocks.

One song employs all nations; and all cry,

“Worthy is the Lamb, for He was slain for us!”

The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks

Shout to each other, and the mountain tops

From distant mountains catch the flying joy;

Till, nation after nation taught the strain,

Earth rolls the rapturous Hosanna round.