CONFIDENCE by C. Van Gorder

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1860

CONFIDENCE.

By C. Van Gorder

Dear Brethren and Sisters: It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Ps. cxviii, 8. Do you trust in the Lord as you should and have perfect confidence that he will lead you safely through the journey you have undertaken, or do you very often get almost discouraged and think the way too long and trials too severe?

Dear brethren and sisters, have confidence. If ever that word was of use, it is now, when our enemy is seeking in every way to overcome us. He knows how short a time he has to work. Perhaps his time is shorter than we are aware, and he knows if he can get us to lose our confidence entirely, we shall lose all.

Doubtless we all had confidence when we embraced the present truth. Have we that same confidence now? We should have greater and stronger. Or have we become discouraged, and think there is no use in trying, saying, Here I have tried one, two or three years and have not overcome yet, and I will stop for there is no use in trying any longer to overcome?

Dear brother or sister, you who may be thus tempted and near giving away, renew your confidence, go forward confiding in the same God that Paul did. We know he had confidence in God, and when writing to his brethren [Heb. x, 35] he says, Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompense of reward. Verse 36. For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Now, dear brethren and sisters, mark how encouraging the next verse is: “For yet a little while he that shall come will come and will not tarry.” I long to see Jesus as he is. Do you not also? Well then have perfect confidence and stop not to let another take your crown.

Your sister. C. VAN GORDER. Portage, Wood Co., Ohio.