In Acceptance Lieth Peace (Poem by Amy Carmichael)

In Acceptance Lieth Peace

A poem by Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)


He said, ‘I will forget the dying faces;
The empty places,
They shall be filled again.
O voices moaning deep within me, cease.’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in forgetting lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will crowd action upon action,
The strife of faction
Shall stir me and sustain;
O tears that drown the fire of manhood cease.’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in endeavour lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life’s riot?
Shut be my door to pain.
Desire, thou dost befool me, thou shalt cease.’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in aloofness lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will submit; I am defeated.
God hath depleted
My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmurings, why will ye not cease?’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God tomorrow
Will to His son explain.’
Then did the turmoil deep within me cease.
Not vain the word, not vain;
For in acceptance lieth peace.

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Want to learn more about Amy Carmichael?

Videos:

Amy Carmichael: Mother to the Motherless
Torchlighters: The Amy Carmichael Story

Books:

Elisabeth Elliot, A Chance to Die: the Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael. Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1987, ISBN 9780800730895
Nancy Estelle Robbons, “God’s madcap: the story of Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur”. Christian Literature Crusade, 1962.
Rebecca Henry Davis, “With Daring Faith: a Biography of Amy Carmichael”. Greenville, South Carolina: Bob Jones University Press, 1987.
Iain H. Murray, “Amy Carmichael; Beauty for Ashes, a Biography”. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2015.
Sam Wellman, Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Barbour Publishing, 1998.
Derick Bingham The Wild-Bird Child: A Life of Amy Carmichael. Ambassador-Emerald International (2004), ISBN 9781840301441

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