When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
When I read this poem by Edgar A. Guest (1881–1959), I thought of the Book of Mormon prophets and the words “valiant” and “steadfast.” Somehow, for me, those words epitomize the last four lines of this poem.
As we age, well maybe aging isn’t really the problem. It’s more like, as we experience the challenges of life, we all face trouble, black clouds, and at times what appears to be futile hope. Or at least we struggle at times to maintain hope. So what is the secret of seeing it through?