The words of this old hymn are very pertinent for me right now – in a number of ways – and perhaps they may minister to you, too.  Samuel Rodigast (1649-1708), the son of a Lutheran minister in Germany, wrote this to comfort a sick friend.  It is the only hymn we know that he authored. 

Whate’er my God ordains is right,

His holy will abideth;

I will be still whate’er He doth,

And follow where He guideth.

He is my God,

Though dark my road,

He holds me that I shall not fall,

Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right,

He never will deceive me;

He leads me by the proper path,

I know He will not leave me,

And take content

What He hath sent;

His hand can turn my griefs away,

And patiently I wait His day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right,

His loving thought attends me;

No poison’d draught the cup can be

That my Physician sends me,

But medicine due

For God is true,

And on that changeless truth I build,

And all my heart with hope is fill’d.

 Whate’er my God ordains is right,

Though now this cup in drinking

May bitter seem to my faint heart,

I take it all unshrinking;

Tears pass away

With dawn of day,

Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,

And pain and sorrow shall depart.

 Whate’er my God ordains is right,

Here shall my stand be taken;

Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,

Yet am I not forsaken,

My Father’s care

Is round me there,

He holds me that I shall not fall,

And so to Him I leave it all.