Standing at the portal of the opening year

Standing at the portal of the opening year,
Words of comfort meet us, hushing every fear,
Spoken through the silence by our Father’s voice,
Tender, strong and faithful, making us rejoice.

“I, the Lord, am with thee, be thou not afraid,
I will help and strengthen, be thou not dismayed!
Yea, I will uphold thee with My own right hand,
Thou art called and chosen in My sight to stand.”

He will never fail us, He will not forsake;
His eternal covenant He will never break;
Resting on His promise, what have we to fear?
God is all sufficient for the coming year.

Refrain
Onward, then, and fear not, children of the day!
For His Word shall never, never pass away.
     Miss Frances Ridley Havergal