It is well to bear in mind that this is not the day of Christ’s power, but it is the day of His sympathy.
When passing through the deep waters of affliction, the heart may at times feel disposed to ask, “Why does not the Lord display His power and deliver me?” The answer is, “This is not the day of His power.”
He could avert that sickness—He could have removed that difficulty—He could have taken off that pressure—He could have prevented that catastrophe—He could have preserved that beloved and fondly cherished object from the cruel grasp of death.
But instead of putting forth His power to deliver us, he allows things to run their course, and pours His own sweet sympathy into the oppressed and riven heart, in such a way as to elicit the acknowledgment that we would not for worlds have missed the trial, because of the abundance of the consolation.
Such, my reader, is the manner of the Lord Jesus just now. By and by He will display His power; He will come forth as the rider on the white horse; He will bare His arm; He will avenge His people, and right their wrongs forever.
But now His sword is sheathed, His arm covered. This is the time for making known the deep love of His heart, not the power of His arm; no, nor the sharpness of His sword.
ARE YOU SATISFIED TO HAVE IT SO? IS CHRIST’S SYMPATHY ENOUGH FOR YOUR HEART, even amidst the keenest sorrow, and the most intense affliction?
The restless heart, the impatient spirit, the unmortified will, would lead one to long to escape from the sickness, the difficulty, the pressure, but this would never do. It would involve incalculable loss.
We must pass from form to form in the school, but the Master accompanies us, and the light of His countenance, and the tender sympathy of His heat sustains us under the most trying circumstances.
“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior.” (Isa. 43:1, 9, 31But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (Isaiah 43:1)
9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. (Isaiah 43:9)
3For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. (Isaiah 43:3)).