Until I Entered the Sanctuary

I washed my hands in innocence, but still the sorrow stayed;

The day was long, the wound was deep, and every prayer delayed;

I wore a quiet faith like stone beneath a winter sky;

Yet every morning brought the ache of asking why;

For I had seen the wicked rise and glitter in the light;

And justice seemed to sleep away through every endless night;

I wrestled with the answer until my strength was thin;

The truth was hidden from my eyes;

And doubt began to win;

Until I entered the sanctuary;

Still and boldly brown;

There in the hush of Your presence;

My broken heart was found;

Then I understood their ending;

How the crowd are set apart;

And peace came softly like a lamp inside my heart;

I almost spoke bare and empty words to walk the easy road;

To trade the weight of holiness for what the careless chose;

But I remembered your own children faithful through the fire;

So I held my tongue and waited in the shadow of desire;

For I had seen the wicked rise and glitter in the light;

And justice seemed to sleep away through every endless night;

I wrestled with the answer until my strength was thin;

The truth was hidden from my eyes and

I began to win;

Until I entered the sanctuary, still and holy ground;

They worshiped Your presence;

My broken heart was found;

Then I understood their ending;

How the crowd I set apart;

Them keys came softly like a lamp inside my heart;

When I stood before Your greatness;

The world grew small and bare;

The noise of envy lost its hold;

Dissolved into a prayer;

What once looked strong was only dust;

A breath that fades away;

But You remain unshaken still;

Beyond the reach of day;

Until I enter the sanctuary;

Still and holy ground;

There in the hush of Your presence;

My broken heart was found;

Then I understood their ending;

How the proud are set apart;

And peace came softly like a lamp inside my heart;

So I will wait and trust You now;

So mysteries remain;

For calm is born where holy feet;

Have walked through grief and pain;