Safe in God's Keeping

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 14, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 31.

Safe in God's Keeping.

An awful thunder-storm was raging one evening. One flash of lightning followed another so quickly that the bedroom in which two girls were lying was brilliantly lighted up every few seconds; and the roar of the thunder—harmless, if they had but known it—had a terrible sound in the ears of the children. They hid their heads beneath the bedclothes, trembling and afraid, or peeped out for a moment, only to shrink again below the welcome covering.

It was early in the evening, and only the children were in bed. Passing backwards and forwards on the landing outside their door went a young house-maid, who was arranging the other rooms for the night. As she moved briskly from place to place, she lifted up her sweet young voice, and sang a favorite hymn:—

"O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home! Under the shadow of thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is thine arm alone, And our defense is sure."

"Jane, Jane," cried a little voice from the bedroom, "are you not afraid? How can you go on singing when it lightens so and the thunder makes such a noise?"

"Afraid, Miss Annie! Oh, no," said the girl. "How can I be afraid, when I know that God is here? He takes care of me, and nothing can hurt me without his will. Besides, he made the lightning and thunder and rain, and they all do a great deal of good, too, each in its way."

"Do they?" said the child, venturing her head outside the clothes, and taking courage. "But the lightning kills people sometimes," she added, with a shudder.

"Yes, dear," said Jane, "but it is only as God wills. It cannot do anything but just what he sends it to do. Don't be afraid; just try to think that you must be safe in God's keeping. He will take care both of you and me."

Then Jane kissed the young faces, and bade them notice how, already, the lightning did not come so frequently, or the voice of thunder sound so loud. Her words left them comforted, and with the sweet thought in their minds, "God will take care of us," whilst the young house-maid resumed alike her work and her song:—

"Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame; From everlasting thou art God, To endless years the same."

It was noticed, in after years, that when other people showed fear during a storm, these children were calm, cheerful, and always ready to cheer others. Their confidence arose from the lesson of trust taught them by the young servant's words and example. They learned to say, "These are God's works. They are only fulfilling his word. 'Under the shadow of his wings will we rejoice.'"—Child's Companion.