Jesus Is Enough To Make Me Smile

words & music by Doug Howell (5 May 1975)

lately I’ve been going through a rough, lonely time
I couldn’t get my eyes off of my dreams
but even when my road becomes a long, hard climb
He’s there to take my hand and say
“It’s brighter than it seems!”

Jesus is enough to make me smile
the light of His Word shines around me mile after mile
when my eyes meet His it’s just impossible to frown
and with His love inside
you just can’t keep me down
Jesus is enough to make me smile

when I look at myself, I lose perspective on things
and I forget the joy of reaching out
but then His Word reminds me of the joy sharing brings
and to think that He’s in love with me
it makes me want to shout

(repeat chorus)

cast your cares on Him
just lay them at His feet
and then He’ll take those bitter times
and He’ll make them oh, so sweet
oh, so sweet

(repeat chorus)

1977 Notes

Here I am, one year, two months and two days later, learning the same lesson over again. When will I learn that when He says, “My grace is sufficient for you,” He means it. but I keep looking for something else. I keep wandering away, searching for something I think I need, taking things into my own hands instead of trusting the Good Shepherd to supply all my needs.

I know you’ll probably have to learn the hard way (if you haven’t already), but just in case you’ll take my word for it, I’ll tell you something: I’ve done a lot of things in my life, I’ve gone a lot of places, I’ve searched near and far, and the only thing that has ever satisfied me is Jesus. The whole world just turns around without Him.

If you won’t take my word, how about His?

II Corinthians 9:8; 12:9,10

2006 Notes

Learning the same lessons over and over again is also a human hallmark. Thank goodness one of the divine hallmarks is patience, because I’ve learned that same lesson a few times since, and may have to learn it again one of these days. But if it’s important, the Lord doesn’t seem to mind teaching it more than once. And somehow it goes a layer deeper each time. One of these days it might just hit bedrock and then “we’ll know, even as we are known.” Until then, let’s be kind to each other.