One pass of my #1 and an overdubbed electric. Dave Rosky provided the bass. The song is based on a public domain 1919 Poem by Annie Johnson Flint with modernized words. 2020 REMIX
This is Jeff Kratzman's Christian Page. I have two categories one for Secular and one for Christian songs. I've had a lifelong relationship with Christ and not to explore the spiritual side in music, would be foolish. I hope you enjoy the songs and take the time to follow-up on some of the Bible verses that inspired the songs. I welcome all feedback, but unpleasantness will just be deleted. This isn't a forum for theological debate. If you don't want to listen to Christian Music, try the Jeff Kratzman - Songs link. There's another 50 songs there.
Story behind the song
The basis for this song is What God Hath Promised by Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932). She was a Christian poet that was debilitated in her late 20s by arthritis and by the end of her life she was only 4 feet tall.
I stayed true to the original words of the poem, just modernizing the language a bit. Im not the first person to set the poem to music, but I purposely avoided the music and melodies done by others. It was my goal to capture the empathy that is Flints suffering and the courage/hope that she is expressing that we are not promised an easy life. I cannot imagine her suffering, but I sense her spirit and heart.
Lyrics
1. God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through,
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
2. God has not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He has not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care
3. God has not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.
