Each day of the future, time binds like a suture
that punctures the present becoming the past.
And layer by layer it forms a conveyer,
transporting me forward, unbidden, unasked.
And try as I may just to live in today,
my mind gazes out through the fog and the mist,
where worry and dread start to fill up my head,
regardlessly grinding my joys into grist.
The one sure solution when mental pollution
has darkened the sun, wiped the blue from the sky –
I blow on the ember of faith and remember:
My Lord is the Sovereign who’s reigning on high.
He’s loved me forever and holds me together,
as onward and upward and forward I trod.
He helps me to stand as I’m holding His hand,
My Jesus, I love you, my Lord and my God!
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The Book of Isaiah the Prophet, Chapter 41, verse 10
© Craig Sabin 2021 All rights reserved
Image: Claude Monet, 1897, Branch of the Seine near Giverny (Mist), Public Domain, courtesy the Art Institute of Chicago
Poetic Perspectives 
Reblogged this on Real Christian Women.
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This is so beautiful. I hope you are well. I am reposting this today. I pray it reaches the one who needs it. Blessings, Craig!
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Thank you, Cindy. I am doing OK, hanging in there day by day. The Lord is faithful and it is still in my heart to write and blog, but in this season my “useful” time is greatly limited. The Lord will open that door back up in His time I trust. Thank you so much for stopping by and for sharing this post!
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You are a wonderful poet, Craig. The Midsts of Time was so moving and touched my heart in a personal way. I will pray that the Lord will strengthen you daily. Blessings, my friend!
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I feel as if this poem perfectly captures the essence of time while still maintaining a stable structure and rhyme that worked really well with the poem. The message in the poem really spoke to me too – we truly have nothing to fear if we are holding hands with God. Even though I’m subscribed, WordPress hadn’t been sending me your posts so I accidentally was missing them. Don’t worry, I’m properly subscribed now.
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Hi Simone, thanks for stopping by, and thank you for your encouragement! Yes, WordPress is a bit squirrely with the subscription feature, I have the same problems and still haven’t fully figured it out. God bless!
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Your poem brought tears to my eyes.
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Bless the Lord. Thank you for commenting, it is an encouragement, indeed, Crissy. God bless!
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I came here through Matt’s (Jesusluvsall) reblog. I enjoyed the poem and identify with the “looking through the midst” concept. Following!
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I’m glad you stopped by! Yes, that seems to be a regular battle for me, and so I’m guessing it is so for others too. I have been appreciating your encouraging posts as well. God bless!
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Matt, this was so absolutely beautiful! That part about ‘wiping the blue from the sky’…. So vivid. Haven’t we all seen those sorts of days?
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Amen, bless the Lord that He walks with us through all of our days, good and bad alike. God bless!
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Great poem, Craig!!
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Thank you, Jyothi. I need to say that I have been enjoying your photos of so many beautiful places, many lately have been near my own home in New York State. God bless!
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Thanks for the kind words, Craig! Really appreciate it! Thank you so much!
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This was indeed a beautiful poem… the Hand in its creation… is the Hand in all creation…
🇯🇲🏖️
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Thank you so much for your comment, moribascorner. Yes, our Creator upholds all things and His presence and sovereignty is a great comfort to those who know Him. God bless!
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🇯🇲🏖️
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Love your poem. God doesn’t simply say fear not. He gives a reason- I am with you
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Thank you, Matt! Yes, praise the Lord for the help of His presence. The imagery of hold-holding is such a blessing and suggests presence, help, and intimacy. By the way, I have been enjoying your series in the book of John. God bless!
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*hand* holding, LOL
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Thank you for reading my series on John
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Craig, your poem touched my heart deeply! When “mental pollution” & fear have wiped the blue from the skies of my heart, Isaiah 41:10 has been my go-to mantra. Thank you for sharing this today. May the love of Jesus strengthen our faith to never let go of His hand! ✨🙏✨
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Amen, Virginia. Isaiah is such a powerful book. It at once exalts God’s righteousness and power like few other books of scripture do, and yet it also offers such personal and intimate comfort from His hand.
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Craig,
Love the pun in your title. 😀 Every word of your poem speaks volumes of your calling as a servant of Christ, tested and true, to his glory. Praying for you “in the midsts of time,” even as you trust in our Lord as a strong deliverer, a sure refuge, and an unfailing and present help.
Grace and peace to you,
dora
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Thank you for your encouragement, Dora. Thank you for your prayers also. Our Lord is our everpresent help and He never fails us, bless His name! Grace and peace to you as well. God bless!
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By God’s grace, hoping all went well this past week, Craig, and praying for present mercies.
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Thank you, Dora, by the Lord’s grace things went well and the doctor will continue to monitor my condition. I’m relieved and grateful!
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Good to hear. Thanks be to God in whom alone we trust!
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In difficult moments I always reach out for Jesus’s hand. I am praying that your Doctor’s visit will go well and for peace for you as you wait. 🌺
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Thank you, Jeanne, I appreciate your prayers and am trusting in our Lord’s grace. God bless you.
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Great poem, Craig! I love Monet! Well done!
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Thanks for the enouragement, Mandy! Yes, I am looking ahead into an uncertain medical appointment next week, and I have been “touring” art museums’ online collections lately, and thus the groundwork for this expression was laid. God bless!
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Praying for your appointment!
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Thank you, Mandy!
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Thanks, Craig, for sharing this profound post with the beautiful Monet.
God, the great I Am, exists always in the present moment.
He encourages us always to hold his hand.
As you say, He has always loved us, and ‘holds us together’, as we move ‘upward, and onward and forward’.
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Hi Sally, thank you for your sweet comment. Yes, praise the Lord for His constant presence and unending grace toward us in our frailty. God bless!
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