Only God Knows LYRICS
This is based on one of the most beautiful pieces of prose/poetry I've ever heard by Cardinal John Henry Newman. Here is the full version:
I Can Not Be Thrown Away
God was all-complete, all-blessed in Himself; but it was His will to create a world for His glory. He is Almighty, and might have done all things Himself, but it has been His will to bring about His purposes by the beings He created. We are all created to His glory—we are created to do His will. I am created to do something or to be something for which no one else is crated; I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has; whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name.
God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission—I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his—if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have apart in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; n perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life; He may shorten it. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me to among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me—still He knows what He is about.
O Adonai, O Ruler of Israel, Thou that guidedst Joseph like a flock, O Emmanuel, O Sapientia, I give myself to Thee. I trust Thee wholly. Thou art wiser than I—more loving to me than I myself. Deign to fulfil Thy high purposes in me whatever they be—work in and through me. I am born to serve Thee, to be Thine, to be Thy instrument. Let me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to see—I ask not to know—I ask simply to be used.
ONLY GOD KNOWS
God knows what God is about.
God does nothing in vain.
Though I don’t see all this life holds for me,
still God knows what God is about.
God has created me to do some definite service.
God has committed some work to be done by me,
not to be done by another.
And I have my mission
though I may never know it in this life.
But I shall be told in the next life,
for God does nothing in vain.
I am a link in a chain,
a bond of connection for persons.
God did not create me for nothing
for God does nothing in vain.
And therefore I will trust Him
for whatever I am I can never be thrown away.
Even my sorrow and sickness have purpose for
God does nothing in vain.
And I shall do good
and I shall do God’s work.
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
if I but keep God’s commandments.
God may take away my friends,
and throw me to strangers,
make me feel desolate or make my spirits sink,
hide my future from me and STILL . . .
God knows what God is about.
God does nothing in vain.
Though I don’t see all this life holds for me,
still God knows what God is about.
Only God knows what God is about.
Thank God, God knows what God’s about.
©1996 Ruah Music. Words based on a prayer by
John Henry Newman, music by Jacque Darragh.
All rights reserved.