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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 24, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 10.

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Faith

By A. S. BOOTH

A. S. BOOTH
HEAVEN is filled with blessing and power for those who will come in faith and prayer to receive it at the hand of the Lord. Faith must accompany prayer, if we expect to receive the blessing the Lord has for us. The real trial of our faith comes when the perplexities of life seem to overwhelm the soul. It is then that it must come to our relief.
Job was blessed with all that heart could wish. Financial, physical, and spiritual blessings were his. When the time of his trial came, all his material blessings were taken from him, his sons and his daughters were slain, and the cruel finger of disease touched his flesh, and from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet he was afflicted with boils.
This was more than his good wife could bear. She gave up her faith in God, and came to her husband and said, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
Job’s faith failed him not. If there ever was a time in his experience that he needed to hold fast the mighty arm of God, it was while sitting in the dust and ashes, with apparently everything against him. Job answered, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women.” The most foolish thing Job could have done would have been to give up his faith in the Lord. He remained faithful. His good wife, profiting by his example, renewed her consecration, and shared in the double blessing of the latter days of Job.
Israel’s experience at the Red Seashould bring hope and courage to all who are afflicted. God opened the most difficult way. God’s people might have stood some chance of escaping to the mountains, or defeating their enemies, but they could not ford the Red Sea.
We are safe in saying, however, that the Red Sea never would have parted for the people to pass over if they had refused to obey God. When they trusted in Jehovah and moved forward, their difficulties vanished, and their enemies suffered defeat. Then Israel had the privilege of shouting the praise of God for blessings received.
Conditions do not make any difference with God. He can overrule in all conditions, and bring the victory to those who will be loyal to him. It is to his honor and glory so to do. We do not know what the Lord can do for us until we give him a chance. The way to give him the chance is to be faithful, no matter what the trial or difficulty. The greater the trial or affliction, the greater the opportunity for God to bring glory to his holy name, and the opportunity for us to gain wonderful victory.
Though severe trials present wonderful opportunity for great victories, yet they also admit of fearful defeat. If we trust in our own strength, we are sure to meet with defeat; but if we remember to hold fast the mighty arm of God, the victory is ours.
Job counted it a very foolish thing to give up faith in God in the affliction that came to him. So in the difficulties of life the greatest mistake that can be made is to forget the Lord. He is especially near in our times of trouble. Shall we not take him into our confidence, and pray that the good Spirit will bring to our remembrance, when the adversary tempts the strongest, that God is our helper, ever anxious and ready to give us the victory? Shall we not educate ourselves to seek God in a special way in times of adversity? May the Lord help us so to do, that we may have a personal experience in the things of God, be prepared to endure the trials that await the people of God, and eventually be saved in the kingdom.
Salt Lake City, Utah.