May We Trust HIS Hear, When We Cannot Trace HIS Hand!

The Giver--and the Taker!
 (John MacDuff)

"The LORD gave--
and the LORD has taken away! 
Blessed be the name of the LORD!" 
Job1:21

Noble posture this--

to kneel and to adore! 

To see no hand but ONE! 

Sabeans, Fire, Whirlwind, Sword--

are all overlooked. The Patriarch 

alone recognizes that it is "the LORD" 

who gave, and "the LORD" who 

has taken away.

What is the cause of so much 

dejection, needless sorrow, 

and unchristian murmuring--

in our hours of trial; and our

inability to sincerely say, 

"May the will of the LORD be done!" 
(Acts 21:14)

It is a refusal to hear HIS voice; 

HIS own loving voice, mingling with 

the accents of the wildest storm: 

"It is I! Do not be afraid!"
(Matthew 14:27b)

"When disaster comes to a city--
has not the LORD caused it?" 
Amos 3:6

Is there a bitter drop in your cup--

and the LORD has not mingled it?

The LORD loves HIS people too well--

to entrust their interest to any other. 

We are but clay in the hand of the Potter; 

earthen vessels in the hand of the Refiner 

of silver. HE metes out our portion. 

HE appoints the bounds of our habitation.

"The LORD GOD prepared the gourd! 
The LORD GOD prepared the worm!" 
(Jonah 4:6,7)

HE is the Author alike of mercies 

and sorrows; of comforts and crosses. 

HE breathes into our nostrils the breath 

of life; and it is at HIS summons, that 

the spirit returns "to the GOD who gave it!"

Oh, that we would seek to regard 

our own lives and the lives 

of those dear to us--

as a loan from the Divine Bestower. 

GOD as the Great Proprietor, 

when HE sees fit--

can revoke the grant or 

curtail the lease HE gave! 

All our mercies are . . .

  bestowed by HIM;

  continued by HIM; 

  withdrawn by HIM!

And how often does HE take away--

that HE HIMSELF may enter 

the vacuum of the heart, and 

fill it with HIS own ineffable 

presence and love! 

No loss can compensate 

for the lack of HIM--

but HE can compensate 

for all losses! 

Let us trust HIS love and 

faithfulness, as a "taking" 

as well as a "giving" GOD. 

May we trust HIS heart--

when we cannot trace HIS hand!

Often are Sense and Sight tempted 

to say, "Not so, LORD!" 

But Faith, resting on HIS promise, 

can exult in this Rainbow spanning 

the darkest cloud, 

"Yes, FATHER, because this was 
YOUR good pleasure!" (Matthew 11:26)
"We know that GOD causes all things 
to work together for the good of those 
who love GOD and are called according 
to HIS purpose." Romans 8:28

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GraceGems has published J.A. James' inspiring article,
"Elizabeth Bales--a Pattern for SundaySchool Teachers & Tract Distributors".