Hoary Before My Time

I’ve grown hoary before my time;
Infirmity came sooner than expected.
Sickness and pain cut me down in my prime,
No person, by suffering, is respected.

Some grow to a ripe old age,
Before their body begins to gray and creak.
But many others, before reaching that stage,
Experience the debilitating decay of their physique.

While I was still young and hale,
One day I woke up disabled by pain.
While in only my twenties I became frail,
But I say this not to complain.

I simply want to share my story,
Because it is one common to mankind.
Over nine years of constant pain have made me hoary;
Though young, the effects of old age have been assigned.

Yet, overall for this I’m grateful,
Because in affliction God has taught me much.
To say, “Pain is a teacher,” is not distasteful,
As the Psalmist said, “It’s good I was afflicted…” etcetera and such.

To persist in anything of value,
To have discipline is a must.
Discipline’s obtained only through adversity gone through,
In submission to God’s will with humble trust.

God disciplines those He loves;
From what is bad He produces good.
Away from sin and death, us, He shoves;
Rewarding those who in faith have withstood.

We must be careful not to guess at,
Specific reasons for suffering that can’t be known.
But with bold confidence we can say that,
“We go through none of it alone.”

The reason for the pain we face,
Is never that God does not love us.
In selfless love He died in our place;
Yahweh incarnate, the Lord Jesus.

Whether you be young or old,
If infirmity’s made you hoary before your time,
Know that as a furnace purifies gold,
Through trial Christ’ll raise you to heights sublime.

Hold fast to Him Who’s held,
Fast to you, even through death on a cross.
One day soon all these pains will be dispelled,
And we’ll be raised up cleansed of all sin’s dross.