Thou Canst Not Fear Now

My soul, thou hast trodden down strength,

And fearest thou now?

The noise of the whips and the rattle

Of wheels in the hurry to battle,

The thunder of Captains, the shouting,

Bewilderment, weariness, flouting -

Are these new things to thee?

The Lord thy God is a Man of War;

Verily thou hast followed afar

If thy garments have never been rolled in blood

In the place swept through by the red, red flood,

Where battles be.

My soul, art thou dreaming?

Thou hast felt the keen edge of the sword,

The thrust of the spear;

Thou hast fallen and risen,

Hast fainted, revived and striven,

Forgetting to fear.

Thou hast trodden down strength in the battles of old,

And fearest thou now?

My soul, thou hast proved thy God,

And fearest thou now?

Behold Him, thy Light and thy Cover,

Thy Champion, Companion, Lover,

Thy Stay when the foeman oppresses,

Thy Song 'mid a thousand distresses.

Is this all new to thee?

The Lord thy God - hath He stood aloof?

(Verily, thou hast put Him to proof)

Hast thou ever, resisting alone unto blood,

Betrayed, overwhelmed by the red, red flood,

Sunk shamefully?

My soul, learn to triumph;

Thou hast felt the keen edge of the sword,

The thrust of the spear;

Thou hast fallen and risen,

Hast fainted, revived and striven,

Forgetting to fear.

Thou hast trodden down strength in the battles of old;

Thou canst not fear now.

~Amy Carmichael