Part of the Plan

By Helen Steiner Rice

God did not promise sun without rain,
light without darkness,
or joy without pain.

He only promised us strength for the day
when the darkness comes
and we lose our way.

For only through sorrow
do we grow more aware
that God is our refuge
in times of despair.

For when we are happy
and life's bright and fair,
we often forget
to kneel down in prayer.

But God seems much closer
and needed much more
when trouble and sorrow
stand outside our door.

For then we seek shelter
in His wondrous love
and we ask Him to send us
help from above.

And that is the reason
we know it is true
that bright, shining hours
and dark, sad ones, too,
Are part of the plan
God made for each one,
and all we can pray is, "Thy will be done!"