“Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust in Him.”
THESE were not stereotyped words which fell from thoughtless lips; but they came from the heart of one who had been severely chastened by the hand of the Lord, “who doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.” Death had again and again entered his home, clothed in its most terrible forms; and afflictions, compared with which death seemed a message of mercy, had fallen to his lot. Repeatedly had he been almost crushed beneath the weight of his trials; but in the darkness, however, his faith had gained the victory, and he could say triumphantly, “Though he slay me yet will I trust in him.” How many of us can adopt his language? Are we not prone to complain of our condition, even when called upon to endure the comparatively trifling cares of every-day life? Do we not murmur against God every hour, and continually charge him with injustice? While enjoying prosperity, we persuade ourselves but too easily that we possess true and living faith in God; but when he sends trials upon us, when those dear to us are called hence, and we see the instability of earthly things, our cry is oftener, “Oh that I knew where I might find him!” than “Yet will I trust in him.” Oh! do not let us be satisfied with our cold, weak, half-hearted faith; but let us, by earnest pleading at the throne of grace, through strength given us by the Lord Jesus Christ, gain the victory over unbelief, and so confide in our heavenly Father, that, whatever may befall, we may acknowledge his goodness, and accept seeming evil, as well as known good, from his loving hand with thankful hearts.