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WAITING

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 2, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 14.

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WAITING

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE
The Master had a mighty work to do; The hour was late, the length'ning shadows crept O'er hill and dale, workmen were scarce and few, And careless watchmen closed their eyes and slept. “Master,” I said, “O Master, here am I,— Thou gavest me talents,—let me work for thee; The harvest whitens; lo, I sigh and cry, Eager to do the work thou gavest me.”
I waited for His answer, when, behold, The while I waited, other workmen came, And passed me by with glances stern and cold, And breathed reproach upon my humble name. “Master,” I called, “O Master, hear’st thou not? Behold, I wait; give me my work, I pray; Shall others do the tasks I love so well? May I not do thy work as well as they?”
There came no answer from the Master’s lips; Long time I waited; it was all in vain. “I can not, can not, will not wait!” I cried, “My heart is bursting with its numbing pain. Master, behold, thou answer’st me no more; Here are the talents thou hast given me, I’ve waited till the day is almost o’er, Now I must go and do thy work for thee.”
But in my path a hedge of thorns rose high; I thought to run; behold, my feet were bound; I looked and caught the glances of His eye, And felt His arm encircling me around. But ah, the while He bound my eager hands, My tear-blind eyes could not discern His face; I only felt the tight'ning of the bands,— I only knew I could not run the race.
“Wherefore, O Master, wherefore deal’st thou thus? If I have sinned, pray let me feel thy rod, For aught is better than these folded hands. Bid me no longer tarry, O my God.”
At last, at last, the blessed answer came: “O faithless child, let others work for me; Learn thou to wait; I love thee still the same As though thou didst the hardest toil for me. “Be still, be still, and know that I am God. My way, through clouds and darkness, is the best; If thou wilt patient bow beneath my rod, Thou shalt receive thy penny with the rest. In mine own time I’ll ope for thee the gate, When thou consentest patiently to wait.”