TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD by Elizabeth M. Patton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 4, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 18.

TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD.

By Elizabeth M. Patton

WHEN the child of God falls under severe temptation, intense darkness will often follow. All he can see or think about is the evil he has done. Even tho the first thought may have been the prayer, "O God, forgive me," the enemy may still press in with his taunts and suggestions of discouragement, till he is dismayed with the enormity of his guilt. He feels so ashamed to have yielded. Perhaps his pride is touched; for, depend upon it, there has been the feeling at some moment of his experience that he was superior to some temptations. Along with these is a real sorrow, too, often not unmixed with the fear that he may have grieved away the Holy Spirit forever.

It is at such moments that the enemy would utterly discourage and wreck a soul. Other temptations quickly follow; and unless one flies immediately to the pitying Saviour, thoughts are often suggested that make him feel that there is no use in ever trying to do right again. Sometimes, in extreme cases, self-destruction is brought to the mind as a relief from the darkness, and many a poor soul has yielded at just such a time in his experience, and the enemy has had one more triumph to flaunt in the face of our pitying Redeemer.

This morning, everything seemed to go wrong. I was physically weak, and in trying to accomplish the usual work, almost before I realized it, I was fretting. Soon something occurred which was especially vexing, and I gave way to impatience. In a flash, anger followed. Then a full realization of what I had done came rushing over me, and my heart cried out in anguish.

Something told me to go and pray. Those who know what it is to walk with God will recognize that it was a suggestion from one of His ministering ones. I obeyed, but as I sank on my knees it seemed that I was utterly barren of anything to present before Him, except as I might tell Him of my sorrow. Before even going to my room, I had lifted my heart in a silent prayer for forgiveness, but it seemed impossible for me to realize that I could have forgiveness so soon. I longed for that peace which follows a realization of full forgiveness. But as I continued on my knees before Him, in a few moments these words came as plainly as tho spoken: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

"Yes, Lord," I replied, "I do want rest."

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

"O, if only I had been meek and lowly in heart, I should not have become so vexed!" I told the Lord in answer to this.

Still yearning for more comfort, I remained on my knees, hoping that God would speak to me again. But nothing more came. "Well," I thought, "there is some reason for God giving me just this and no more. He has just told me to come to Him; perhaps He would talk with me now from His Word."

Returning to the kitchen, I easily arranged my work so that I might leave it a few minutes longer, and then sat down with the Word. Trusting God to direct me to just the right place, I opened my Bible, and immediately my eyes rested upon this marked passage in Micah 7: "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?" I stopped, and in my heart praised God for this comfort. And now for the most wonderful part. As soon as I began to praise Him for forgiveness, immediately the clouds began to lift from my soul! I knew this had been written especially for me, for am I not one of the remnant of His heritage?

I read on into the next verse: "He will subdue our iniquities." Praise the Lord again! None but a God like ours could promise or do more than this. Soon He led me to read just across from this in the same chapter, and the words rang with victory for me: "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me."

I praised God for the consolation of His Word. The darkness and discouragement were gone. I went about my work with new strength; for I had stopped for a few moments with the Lord, and He had forgiven my iniquity; He had exchanged His strength for my weakness; He had healed my sore heart, and put a new song on my lips, even praise unto our God.

Who is a God like unto our God?