Mysterious Ways

William always wondered how he survived.

He was considered one of the greatest poets of the 19th century. Yet, depression haunted him.

In his youth, his father pushed him into the study of law, but he hated it. Three times, he attempted suicide, but he was even a failure at that.

Finally, his family had him confined to an insane asylum for 18 months.

Upon his release, a friend he met took him in. His friend preached for a small church in Olney, England. The man had dabbled in many affairs, including the slave trade, before his conversion. He knew the depths of despair his new friend, William Cowper, faced. The preacher’s name was John Newton.

Newton and Cowper became a great team and wrote a hymnbook with 67 songs. One was Newton’s piece Amazing Grace.

One day, Cowper rode through the country in a coach and reflected on his life. What would have happened if he had killed himself? What if he had not met Newton?

Words formed in his mind and then penned to paper. He wrote:

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain.
For God is His own interpreter
And He will make it plain.
In His own time
In His own way.

No matter how bleak life appears, God is moving. Wait for his time and his way.