Waiting by M. W. Howard

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1865

Waiting.

By M. W. Howard

"My soul wait thou upon God," at times we hear the Psalmist exclaim; and again he assures us that he "waited patiently for the Lord, and trusted in him." This waiting of which David so often speaks, is fitting for all. Some there are who fondly think they are thus waiting for God's purposes and work to be accomplished in them. There may indeed be a necessity for waiting an opportunity to do the service for Christ, that gladly they would do. But waiting does not properly begin till we are fully ready. While "busy here and there," making preparations, we are not truly waiting.

There are few who in one way or another, are not forced to wait; and in the manner of doing this, we may perhaps evince our filial trust in God as fully as in actively performing another work, for the poet was correct when he said,

"They also work, who only stand and wait."

Again there may be those, who, thoroughly convinced of some positions regarding Christian experience and duty, yet find a necessity laid upon them to wait; for there may be duties and obligations that may not be contravened, for the Bible injunction still stands irrevocable, "Let wives be obedient to their own husbands, lest the word of God be blasphemed." Titus ii, 5. The same inspired word tells us that the wrath of man shall praise God, and the remainder he will restrain. Believing this, relying upon it, let us trust in God and wait upon him. If such as are "bound in the spirit" by social bonds, are indeed standing like those who of old stood by the water pots, waiting the commands of the Great Master, already giving heed to the preparatory command, "Whatsoever he saith unto thee, do it," all will be well. In God's own good time and way, will he lead his consecrated ones onward step by step; if in the self-consecration they have indeed presented their entire selves, "a living sacrifice, and withal bound that sacrifice with cords upon the horns of the altar," that they may not dare to take it back, nor could if they would. It is such a consecration that God requires. Happy are they who have made it. Already they feel the fulfillment of Jesus' words, "And I will give unto them an hundred fold." But let not such forget his warning words, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall;" for only in a daily, hourly, constant trust in God is there safety; only in a full reliance, moment by moment in the grace of Jesus, can any be able to stand in the evil hour.

M. W. HOWARD.

Malone, N. Y., Aug., 1864.