In the realm of shadows

                “Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
                I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
                your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
                Psalm 23:4


Teach me, my Lord, how to live according
words of the Spirit and daily the Bible trust,
neither resentment, nor anger, or rancour hoarding,
for to be merciful and forgiving I must.

I’m in the realm of shadows, where hearts are harder
and where Satan is ruling, our common foe.
Help me to love you, Lord, with a greater ardour,
if in the darkest valley I have to go.

How to live in this world, where darkness abounds?
things are absurd, and sins are becoming laws,
where demonic force more and more surrounds,
quietly at my heart anxiety gnaws.

Something’s disturbing me, I can’t tell, it’s blurry,
but in the world of fraud, deceit, and intrigue,
possibly it’s for my children some deepest worry
or maybe I am struck by regrets or fatigue.

The callous world is deaf to God’s revelations
and to suppress the truth it frantically tries,
a shroud of falsehood envelops entire nations,
minds of people are trapped in the devil’s lies.

I am, it seems, in this world no longer needed,
and sleepless nights, perhaps, my hopes erode.
Yet, in my deepest core I cannot be defeated,
faith in You, Lord Jesus, cannot corrode.

Should I dare to grumble, if even You,
God in the flesh, walked on earth on the dusty roads,
tiredness and fatigue so well You knew,
overwhelmed with people's complaints loads.

Should I bemoan my losses, when even You,
being abandoned by friends at the biased trial,
with the exception of very few,
and you experienced then your disciple’s denial.

Should I groan from hurt, when the King of kings,
You by the Roman guards were hit on the face,
You, the Creator, from whom any life springs,
with Your forgiveness repentant sinners embrace.

Being betrayed, and spat at, and crucified,
with mocking crowds of mob laughing at You,
You for their sins on the cross have died,
staying to God alone faithful and true.

Risen from death to life, You are giving hope,
when in this darkened world any hope dies.
Setting my heart on You, I can now cope,
and from my grief and pain my soul can rise.

26.01.2022

This is an English version of my poem
"В мире теней" http://stihi.ru/2022/01/24/4826

It’s always easy to trust God when things are going good, but how about when we are going through trials? On our Christian walk of faith we will go through some bumps. At such times it is easy to fall into temptation to complain and even blame God for being unfair, for allowing difficulties in our lives, but we shouldn’t forget that the Lord has always higher purposes, which we might not be able to discern and comprehend.   Trusting in the Lord’s plan and praying to Him can help us to go through troubles spiritually unscathed and can build our souls.
Since I accepted Christ as my Saviour and my King, I’ve been through many trials. Through all the hard times God has never forsaken me, and I came to the conclusion that even though God sometimes doesn’t answer in our specific way, He answers in the best way at the best time. Whatever the Lord does, it is for the good of those who love Him.
“Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.”
Psalm 9:9-10 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 34:17-18 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.