A gentleman was laid on a bed of sickness for about eighteen months. He had been a man of business, but through his illness and the depression of trade at that time, he was compelled to retire into private life. He was not only a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also a faithful servant of His. His wife, who was also a believer, and whose faith was to be commended, had to take the duty of nurse while having the responsibility of a large family. Through this time of trouble and anxiety, no one expected to see this servant of the Lord live, and many were the deliverances in the trial, that I could relate. Among them, the following may prove to be an encouragement to some fainting child of God.
The wife was seated one day by the bedside of her afflicted husband, discussing how they were going to get bread for the next day, for they had no flour in the house. They were both praying to God, with tearful eyes, yet with faith that their heavenly Father would provide for their necessities. While they were thus engaged, a knock was heard at the door, which was answered by one of the children, who found a sack of flour had been placed there by a boy, who would not say where it was from. They then thanked God for His great deliverance.
Dear Christian reader, has some great sorrow overtaken you, some trial which has stripped you of much which your heart has held dear, and left you in poor circumstances, and all but helpless?
“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust His promised grace;
Behind a frowning; Providence
He hides a smiling face.”
Remember, your faith has to do with One of whom it is written, He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” To His feeblest child He says, whatever the circumstances and trials may be, “Ask of Me great and mighty things, and things thou knowest not of,” and He “will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in paths they have not known: I will make the darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.”
In regard to over-carefulness, dear reader, hear His voice to you through the Son of His love, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matt. 6:28-3028And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:28‑30)).
However tried, therefore, dwell not upon your sorrows, nor look to your own wisdom and resources, but to the love and faithfulness of Him who is able to restore what you have lost—at any rate, turn your very adversity into blessing, and enrich your spirit. (Rom. 8:28, 3228And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)).