OUR picture shows us three little girls sitting on a gnarled root, under an old umbrella. If you will take a look at the umbrella, with the large hole in it, and the cover drawn back from the ribs, you will think they have not a very good protection from the storm and the rain. But there does not seem to be any rain falling! Perhaps the little girls can see dark clouds up through the leaves of the large trees under which they are sitting; and maybe they hear the low thunder muttering and know that a storm is at hand; and so they have dropped their flowers, and each has taken her kitty in her arms, and they are huddled together under the old umbrella.
They do not look at all afraid; their faces are bright and happy. Why should they fear, for help is at hand. See in the picture, in front of the little girls, there is part of a man’s foot, and there is an umbrella, that he has evidently brought to shelter them, and they peep out with swell pleased faces from under the old one. Perhaps they and their kitties will all be safe home before the storm comes on!
Now I want to tell you about “a place of refuge,” “a covert from storm and from rain,” of which God’s word speaks. The storm of God’s wrath is coming upon this world, by and bye, because of its wickedness. Its pleasures and its amusements may go on for a little time yet; its wickedness may be unpunished a little longer; but “the wrath of the Lord of hosts” will awake; “the day of His fierce anger” will come. He will then “punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity.” Blessed indeed it is for all those who know the Lord and who are therefore sheltered from this dreadful, coming wrath. We do not like to think of storms, but if we know that storms must come, it is happy to have a shelter provided. And those who are sheltered under the precious blood of Jesus need not fear the coming storm of God’s wrath, for they will be taken safe home to the Father’s house before the storm bursts upon this poor world.
They are far more secure, and much more sure of reaching home in time, than the little girls in the picture are; for the word of Him who has all power in heaven and on earth is that He will keep His own out of the hour of trial which shall come upon all the world.
But there are storms through which we have to pass while we are yet in the world—storms of sorrow and of trial—suffering, sickness, bereavements, distress of circumstances, and many other things to sorely try us. My dear young readers may not know much of these storms, but they will know something of them, and as they grow older they will know yet more of the storms of this life. And is there no refuge here before we reach “the Father’s house”? Oh! yes,
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ps. 46:1.
We can take all our trials and sorrows to Him, and His ear will be open to hear what we have to say, and His arm will be stretched out to give us help. And when we have learned the lesson God has for us in the sorrow, He will bid the storm to cease. How beautifully this refuge is described in Isa. 25 :4. “Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat.” May you all, dear children, find this blessed refuge and hiding place!
ML 10/14/1900