IT was Lord’s day morning; the wind was whirling and blowing, and dark, ominous clouds were overhead, threatening a downfall any moment.
A young Christian woman looked out upon the dreary scene; it was her wish to meet a little company of God’s people and go with them to attend a meeting, but there was a large bay to cross, and the’ angry waters, lashed by the strong wind, were rolling and tossing. The prospect as she looked forth, seemed hopeless enough. But ah! there is ever a resource in God; the “stormy wind” fulfills His word, and the seas obey His voice. This dear young woman had learned to know the Lord and to put her trust in Him; silently she lifted her heart to Him, asking Him to “rebuke the wind.”
But Satan, who is ready to harass and trouble God’s people, was at hand, and began to assail her. He whispered to her “Do you think the Lord will hear your prayer?” She recognized that this was a temptation from Satan, and said “Yes, I have asked by the Spirit, and if it, was His will; and He will certainly do it.” She looked out and lo! the wind had fallen. She was rejoicing in the Lord’s goodness in this, for with the going down of the wind the waters of the bay would after a little become more quiet. But soon the rain began to fall; then Satan renewed his attack; this time he said, “Yes, the wind has been rebuked, but, it rains, it rains!” “The Lord will rebuke the rain also,” was her reply.
In less than two hours the storm had cleared away, and in time, too, for these dear people to get together and cross the bay to attend their meeting.
Let us learn from this, dear children, to put our trust in God. Wherever we may be, or whatever our circumstances may be, He is thinking of us and watching over us.
“What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee.” Ps. 56:3, would be a nice little verse for you to learn.
And if Satan assails us, let us turn right to God, as this dear Christian did. We can always overcome him, if we take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” with which to meet him. He cannot stand against that. If we are tried by wind and storm, and Satan buffets us through these things, we can tell him that the fire, the hail, the snow, the stormy wind are but fulfilling God’s word, and that all can only work for good to those who love God.
When God gives relief to those who ask in faith, He gives it very quickly. “He sendeth forth His commandment upon earth; His word runneth very swiftly.”
R.
ML 04/29/1900