Where Faith begins, anxiety ends; Where anxiety begins, Faith ends.
Ponder these words of the Lord Jesus, "Only believe." As long as we are able to trust in God, holding fast in heart, that he is able and willing to help those who rest on the Lord Jesus for salvation, in all matters which are for His glory and their good, the heart remains calm and peaceful. It is only when we _practically_ let go faith in His power or His love, that we lose our peace and become troubled. This very day I am in great trial in connection with the work in which I am engaged; yet my soul was calmed and quieted by the remembrance of God's power and love; and I said to myself this morning: "As David encouraged himself in Jehovah his God, when he returned to Ziklag, so will I encourage myself in God;" and the result was peace of soul.... It is the very time for _faith_ to work, when _sight_ ceases. The greater the difficulties, the easier for _faith._ As long as there remain certain natural prospects, faith does not get on even as easily (if I may say so), as when all natural prospects fail.
Observe two things! We acted _for God_ in delaying the public meetings and the publishing of the Report; but _God's way leads always into trial, so far as sight and sense are concerned. Nature_ always will be tried _in God's ways._ The Lord was saying by this poverty, "I will now see whether you truly lean upon me, and whether you truly look to me." Of all the seasons that I had ever passed through since I had been living in this way, _up to that time,_ I never knew any period in which my faith was tried so sharply, as during the four months from Dec. 12, 1841, to April 12, 1842. But observe further: We might even now have altered our minds with respect to the public meetings and publishing the Report; for _no one knew our determination, at this time,_ concerning the point. Nay, on the contrary, we knew with what delight very many children of God were looking forward to receive further accounts. But the Lord kept us steadfast to the conclusion, at which we had arrived under His guidance.