Victim or Survivor

I asked my Lord, I asked each day-
'How long must I feel this way?'
I came to Him with all my woes,
Brought Him all my highs and lows.
I did not know how to survive
I really did not feel alive;
My thoughts and feelings all for self,
Cares for others, on the shelf.

And then one day, advice I heard,
[which seemed at first to be absurd]
"A real survivor you can be
From 'victim feelings' be set free"
These words I could not comprehend
And my deep feelings did defend,
But from my heart a prayer did raise.
That God would all my hurt erase.

The hurt, I'm sure, will rear its head
As on the path of life I tread,
But by God's most wondrous grace,
The joy of life I will embrace.
I know I've much to thank God for,
As He showed to me the open door
To life in all its blessedness,
And showed the way to happiness.

And so the pain I hope will ease
And that deep down I'll know God's peace,
Remembering joys that came my way
Both in the past, and each new day,
I know that I must trust my Lord
And listen to His every word.
I love my Lord, He loves me too,
I know He'll give me life anew.

This poem won second place for the March 2010 poetry contest