Father When I Struggle

©Deborah Bolack 2002
Pianist Mrs. Susan Carlson
Soloist Crystal Krause
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Father, when I struggle with the trials of each day;
when the storm clouds gather, and blue skies turn to gray,
I will trust in you Lord, and I’ll commit my way.
I need you every hour, your guidance day by day.
~

And so I sing your praises, and glorify your name.
You roll the clouds away, bring sunshine after rain.
You light the path ahead; give strength to carry on.
You pour out loving kindness, and fill my heart with song.
~
Father, when I struggle with the burdens of each day,
Sometimes I grow weary, my home seems far away.
I will rest in you Lord, not fretting come what may.
I know that you are with me; you answer when I pray.
~
And so I sing your praises, and glorify your name.
You roll the clouds away, bring sunshine after rain.
You light the path ahead; give strength to carry on.
You pour out loving kindness, and fill my heart with song.
~
 Father when I struggle you fill my heart with song.
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When I wrote the original version of this song, in 1996, it had a very somber tone. Six years later I rewrote the chorus and completely changed the melody, turning it into a much more upbeat song.
The words are based, in part, on my daughter Dana’s favorite portion of scripture, in Psalm 37. I have watched Dana go through some trials in her life, and these verses have always been evident in the way she has met each challenge. As she and her husband are busy raising four beautiful children of their own, I’m sure there are more challenges to come in her future, but I know that if she raises her children with the same dependence on her Lord and Saviour that she has always shown, she will be just as proud of them as I am of her.

Psalm 37:1,3-7a Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:
Song Of Solomon 2:11,12a For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come,
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Isaiah 63:7a I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us,