A doctor was once asked by a patient who had met with a serious accident, "Doctor, how long shall I have to lie here?" The answer, "Only a day at a time," taught the patient a precious lesson.
The same lesson God taught His people, and the people of all ages since, through the method of His provision for Israel during their wilderness journey. "The day's portion in its day" (Ex. 16:44Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. (Exodus 16:4), margin). Day by day the manna fell, enough for each day, and no more and no less.
So God promises us, not "As thy weeks," or "As thy months," but "As thy DAYS, so shall thy strength be." And that means Monday's grace for Monday, and Tuesday's grace for Tuesday, and so on. Why, then, borrow trouble for the future? We are especially told by the Lord to "take no thought for tomorrow." The true rule is to live by the day, to live a life of trust.
The law of Divine grace is, "Sufficient unto the day." The law of Divine deliverance is, "A very present help." The law of Divine guidance is, "Step by step."
One who carries a lantern on a dark road at night sees only a step before him. If he takes that step he carries the lantern forward and that makes another step plain. At length he reaches his destination in safety without once stepping into darkness. The whole way was made light to him, though only a single step of it was made plain at one time. This is the method of God's guidance—one step at a time.
It is a blessed secret, this of living by the day. Anyone can carry his burden, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do this work, however hard, for one day. And in the strength of God, anyone can live trustingly, lovingly, and purely till the sun goes down. And this is all that life really means to us—just one little day.
" Day by day the manna fell;
Oh! to learn this lesson well."