Trust in God by H. F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 30, 1873

Trust in God.

By H. F. Phelps

“THEY that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.” Ps. 125:1.

Blessed promise! Glorious assurance! How good to trust in God, to rely upon him implicitly! An earthly friend, one whom we can trust, one who will sympathize with us in our trials and in our sorrows—who has not found such a friend of great value? But earthly friends may fail us. They may not feel the depths of our woes; but God can. Yes, he can, and he will; and to trust in such a one, oh! it is more than mortals can realize. The benefits to be derived from trusting in God are many, and we have the assurance that if we do, we shall not be moved. Yes, I say, glorious promise! I long to trust in Him.

Let the arm of flesh fail, if by this means I may be enabled to trust fully in God. He has spoken. He speaks only the truth. May I not believe him? He is able to perform. Can I not believe it? He is wise, and knows best what is for my good. May I not believe that all things work for good to those that love God? If I love him, if I love his commandments, why may I not believe? Why may I not trust in him? Lord, help; for without thee I can do nothing. “He will keep the feet of his saints.” “For their rock is not as our rock, even our enemies being judges.”

I only make myself worse by remaining where I cannot trust in him. I will come, childlike, and trust him, as I once did my parents. When I do this, then, if he chastise me, I shall know that it is for my good. My weakness is manifest in being far from him; my strength, in getting near; my folly, in my lack of trusting in him; and just so far as I fail in trusting in him, I trust in self. Then I will come to him. I will believe. I will trust. Then, it may be, God can work through me to the good of souls. H. F. PHELPS.