Call to perseverance

Was it meant to be easy? Did you think it would be hard?
There's a beauty in the giving, in the surrender of your heart
In the dying there's a living, death is but the start
The work that had begun will never come to pass
In the losing comes the finding, in the wait, the sanctifying
Though there's pain in the night, joy in the morning
In the valley there is light When it feels that love is costly
I know it's worth the offering
The return's worth more than it imparts

Oh help me love the giving up With joy and not reluctance
For something greater than my selfish wants
Oh to trust in Your prevailing plans
And in Your perfect righteousness
I rest in You and I can stand
Oh please preserve my soul

You call me to faithfulness
Help me not to waste it

Oh, empower me by Your Spirit to love beyond myself
To live for more than myself They need me and I need
You They need me to show them You
When they run into my arms
Show them there's a greater love
From which all goodness flows
A fountain where we all must go
A river whose water's life
The vine in which I must abide
To have any hope in life Know the way the story ends
Oh my child be assured of this You will see my goodness in the land of the living

Oh help me love the giving up With joy and not reluctance
For something greater than my selfish wants
Oh and trust in Your prevailing plans
And in Your perfect righteousness I rest in You and I can stand
Oh please preserve my soul

You call me to faithfulness Help me not to waste it
Call me to contentment Help me not resent it
Call to perseverance, and
The faithful one will do it