Be Comforted

Be comforted,

all you who are tried and buffeted with difficulties

in your way towards heaven,

difficulties from without and difficulties from within,
difficulties abroad and difficulties at home,

grief for your own sins and
grief for the sins of others:

the Good Shepherd Jesus knows you well,

though you may not think it.

You never shed a secret tear over your own corruption,
you never breathed a single prayer for forgiveness and helping grace,

you never made a single struggle against wickedness,

which He did not remark and
note down in the book of His remembrance.

You need not fear His not understanding your needs,

you need not be afraid your prayers are too poor
and unlearned to be attended to;

He knows your particular necessities far
better than you do yourselves,

and your humble supplications are no sooner
offered up than heard.

*~ J.C. Ryle*