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God's Guiding Hand

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 7, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 10.

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God's Guiding Hand

By Mrs. C. O. Hall

MRS. C. O. HALL
The only condition in the matter of having God's guidance is that we let him guide. He can not lead us unless we follow. We must choose to let him guide, or he can not do it. The human has power to say “No” to the divine, for the Lord has made us free moral agents.
Why are we so afraid to trust ourselves in God's hands? Do we believe in God? Whatever God shall plan for us is positively and surely the best; and could our eyes at this moment be opened to see in the light of eternity, we would always choose for ourselves what God has chosen for us. Some day when the veil is rent that hides us from his presence, we shall be led to exclaim, My God hath done all things well! Until that day let us trust, even when we can not trace his hand.
Some one may ask, Do you mean to say God's hand was leading the disciples when they suffered martyrdom? that God was with the many who since that time have gone to the stake for Jesus' sake? and that his hand is with us when the billows of sorrow and trouble seem almost to overwhelm us? that he will be with us when we, too, may have to suffer martyrdom as we near the end of time?And to all these queries we answer “Yes,” for God's word can not be broken. His promises are sure: and I read, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Every true Christian has been taken through experiences that have well-nigh shaken the foundation of his being, but “looking unto Him” through it all, he has been led out into a large place with him. Looking back over his life, the faithful follower of Jesus will remember some sharp disciplines, which he now sees have better fitted him to minister to others. The place he now fills would have been less worthily filled had he been excused from the tears and testings that have been a part of his Christian experience.
We have tested fully that we can not walk alone. The path of life is beset with too many rough places. What insanity it is to lean upon our own weakness, when we can have the Lord's omnipotent strength at the command of our faith! If we would have God's guidance, we must be humble, be leadable, and then we can say with Whittier,—
“I know not what the future hath Of marvel or surprise, Assured alone that life and death His mercy underlies. “No offerings of my own I have, Nor works my faith to prove; I can but give the gift he gave, And plead his love for love. “And so beside the silent sea I wait the muffled oar, No harm from him can come to me On ocean or on shore. “I know not where his islands lift Their fronded palms in air, I only know I can not drift Beyond his love and care.”
Providence, R. I.