the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; when his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; as I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle. Job 29:2-4. We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness Isaiah 59:9. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2.
The ways in which the Lord leads His own are often very dark; they can hardly see a step ahead, not knowing where to place the foot. On all sides the soul is wrapped in the blackness of night; no star shines; the sun and the moon are gone down. The road is rough, stony and dangerous. Then we think with Job of the months and years gone by with their beautiful and glorious illumination when we walked as in broad daylight, in the rays from the sun of righteousness. Even in the darkness we had sufficient light to walk securely and cheerfully. Job had to pass through this night, and the Lord helped him through it. The God of Job is also your God; only surrender yourself to Him. If you do not see anything, yet hold fast in faith His hidden hand. His hand holds you though you do not see it; it does not relinquish its hold upon you. Though you say with Isaiah, "We wait for light and behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind" (Isaiah 59:9-10). Instead of being gladdened by the expected light, ever more darkness breaks in. Yet, fear not! For "the people that walk in darkness see a great light," if they wait for the light in faith. The Lord is the same yesterday and today; yea. He is forever the same. As He was in the youth of my faith, "when His secret was upon my tabernacle," even such is He today, even though darkness now cover my tabernacle. He never changes. He remains love, faithfulness and truth, by night as by day, in storm as well as in still, clear and sunny weather. Do not change your faith and trust. He changes not.
From all my griefs and straits, O Lord!
Thy mercy sets me free;
Whilst in the confidence of prayer
My heart takes hold on Thee.
