When I am afraid

When I am afraid
And unsure
Open my eyes
To see

When misery
Is creeping in
Come hope
To rest
In thee

When doubts
Near dominate
My soul
So assurance
Come and
Rescue me

My mind's a mush
Of things
And still I know not
Where or when
To begin

Tis but a maze of confusion
So long I for a resolution
To awaken from this
Nightmare untamed

Where can I go
When ere my grip
Is near its last

Where can I hide
When conflicted pride
Has its way with me

How can humility
Fall afresh upon me
So long I to be free

The cords they tighten
Round me
Yet still this faith
Of which I've known
Clings to the bone

So come thou
Sweet salvation
Come and wreak
All desolation
And call thine
Own creation
Home

-Joshua Lee Foist

When conflicted

So rest my soul

So rest my soul
To all which lies
Beyond thy control

So rest my soul
In that which
Truly satisfies

When all the worries
Surround and cover thee
Rest in that assuring grace

Twill lead thee through
All the trials of life
Through joy and strife

Though thy troubles
At times may abound
That love profound
Shall stand its ground

Twill pick thee up
And carry thee on
Thy way

Despite the doubt
And pain a time
Thee may endure

Know this for sure
Such a love devine
Shall always remain

For this only is true
This alone will
Never fail

So lean upon
Thy rock and rest
In the one whom
All thy years
Hath blessed

As to that which is unseen

As to that which is unseen
Yet has transformed me
For there where I was once
In despair

Thy way hath revealed
Day by day
In the still and quiet

While lost am I
In a grand illusion
Safe and secure
Doth remain

As for contentment
Oft resentment
In me doth increase
For I am much impatient

Yet that which is good
A lifelong ambition
Must take the full
Course

For ere the days
Are evil
And innocence
Bewares such
Things

So seek thy
Sure and steady
Heart

My soul
Eternal
Hath Control

Lead me through
The dark of night
Into thy radient
Transforming
Light

-Joshua Lee Foist

Worlds of grace in ways unknown

Worlds of grace in ways unknown
Where time and space are yet
To be shown

The answers far
Not far away
From faith

Will know
In time
The heart

Let go
The pain
Release

And gain
Thy humbled
Disdain

Hath
Found
Again

When at last
The dread season's
Past

Thy soul
Shall shed
Anew

Oh into
Vast oceans
Blue

O'er horizons
And early
Morn'ed dew

Let it in
Yea let it
Wash

Thy cares
Away

And let
The sunlight
Rays

Warm thy
Heart
Though
Evil days
Surround

Its warmth
Shall ere
Abound

When at last
Forgiveness
Found

Thy sure
Salvation's
Eternal

Destination
Calm thy
Sweet
Reservation

Hath come
To thee
At last

-Joshua Lee Foist

Leave me not to the rushing wind

Leave me not to the rushing wind
Of which I must give in
But catch me deep within
And ne'er let me go

My heart, my soul
Tis all within thy power
Though ever now the hour
Such longing for belonging

So for love must die
For all
Must give all
Must trust all

In rage, in wonder
In glory, in plunder
Tis all within thy hand

For all of fears and failings
For all the nights
And endless wailings

My heart, may it ere beat true
My trust, may it rest in you
For faith beyond
All fear

To thee for that which is near
And that which seems as fleating

The joys of eden
Cast to the sands of time
Deep into the oceans
To where can one find

Yet time within all time
Is ever thine

All desires and longings
Are in thy will
And where may guide
Who can abide

Though to trust
And hope
In thee to hide

All sorrows
And cares of
Tomorrows

Lie open before thee
Yet soft yet tender
Thy gentle care

Can warm the coldest
Heart and melt it
Of dispair

For fair is love
Of rare such love
Twould give it all
To save

-Joshua Lee Foist

On days of rain and wind

On days of rain and wind
I find my heart tis low
When the winds blow
And the rain drizzles down
My melancholy oft steals round

What for cloudy days
Bring a restless heart
The doubts that divide
The truth inside

Oh cast me not from
This dismal scene
But work within
That hope may begin
To heal the hurt
That oft may hide
Amidst the storm
Inside

My minds a jelly mush of things
Thinking on what's been
And may yet never be

Yet past is past
And present
Is now

So wade not long
In thy wallowing song
Let the light of love
And longing seek
That which is sure

Through the fog
And fear that oft
May appear

Let it burn
Till its fire
Lights up
The night

For darkness
Cannot stand
Under it

Tis purged of all
Its punishment
For the light that shines
Brings joy divine

To all who will
Seek it
While yet
It spreads
It's canopy ore
The land
May find
The strength
To stand
And wait

For hope
Refreshes
And restores
Amidst
The coldest
And bitterest
Storms

-Joshua Lee Foist

We walked in the rain

We walked in the rain
She in her way
I in mine

At first when
I saw her
Rushing cross
The way

I thought
At chance
She'd see me
Though her back
To me was turned

I mused mildly
Of her in the mist
And mud

Then a moment I saw her
Once more just ahead
The path she had taken
Had brought her back round

Yet still I behind
And little a chance
So stole onward
Up the spiraled staircase
That led to the next road

When scarcely up it
Whom should I meet
But the lady by and by
I saw twice a time
Before

Upon our third encounter
This time our paths
Could not ignore
For now as one were
They

Then I in diffident demeanor
Did ask if I may offer
My canopy o'er her
While we walked
Awhile ahead

She kindly inclined
And I joyfully accepted

She asked my name
And I hers
Then of where I
Stayed

As we made mild
Conversation
She told me
Her craft

A poet was she
Though a scholar
At present

We spoke
A bit more
Before
Our ways
Diverged

Though I shall ne'er
Soon forget
Upon that once
Drizzly day

A fair young
Lass did I thrice
Once pass

And offered
My canopy
From the wind
And rain

-Joshua Lee Foist