Morning, August 31
Go To Evening Reading
“On mine arm shall they trust.”
Isaiah 51:5
In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that
he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his
God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance
can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence
and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this!
O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There
is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our
friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that
he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with
troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to
any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more
of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer,
it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou
hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence
in him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears;
but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy
God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou
art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong
man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the
everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits.
Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly,
as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in
thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress.
The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were
supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its
glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May
the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the
month.