Patient Waiting by H. E. Sawyer Hopkins

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 28, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 13.

Patient Waiting

By H. E. Sawyer Hopkins

WHEN brought into strait and trying places, shall we give way to a downcast and discouraged feeling, when the Lord says, "Be strong and of a good courage" (Joshua 1:9); and again, to the faint-hearted, "Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed"? The trouble with us is that we are anxious to see our way out of every difficulty right off.

How much David has to say about waiting! We plan after our own ideas, or we consult another, instead of following God's plan to wait upon Him. Turning to the last part of Joshua 1:9 we read, "For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." To Jeremiah in trouble on every hand the Lord says, "Am I a God at hand, . . . and not a God afar off?" These are precious words, left on record for us to remember where our strength lies.

This recalls to mind an experience while passing through a sore trial, and the deliverance that was brought. The trial being very hard to bear, as it was undermining my health, I prayed for deliverance, or strength to endure it.

On opening my Bible one day, I asked for comforting words. The following texts were brought to my attention: "I will send My fear before thee, . . . and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee." Ex. 23:27. "Ye shall not fear them:

for the Lord your God He shall fight for you." Deut. 3:22. "Be not afraid nor dismayed; . . . for the battle is not yours, but God's." "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you: . . . fear not, nor be dismayed; . . . for the Lord will be with you." 2 Chron. 20:15, 17.

For my encouragement a few days after, this text came to mind: "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." Ex. 14:14. In the Lord's own time and way some five weeks after, deliverance came. Surely I had reason to praise Him for His goodness and mercy.

Jesus depended on His Father for help in times of necessity. Why should not His followers? If we are patient it will surely come.

God gave us our faculties not to lie dormant, but to put them into use. If He tells us to "ask and receive," is not here a good opportunity to beseech Him earnestly for divine guidance, wisdom, and good judgment, and at the same time to be willing to submit to whatever His will may be, and wait patiently for Him to act?

O that we might remember we are now living in the patient waiting time, and that each one of us has a lesson to learn to wait upon God after committing our way to Him.

God is our Father; and the command given to Joshua to "be strong and of a good courage," is for us as well as for him. We certainly need to heed this command more and more in these days of trials and perplexities. In Rom. 4:21 we have the word of Paul that what God has promised, He is able to perform. "God's eye is upon His children"—His remnant people; and it is our blessed privilege to expect divine assistance out of every trial and perplexity if we learn to wait His own time and way, or strength to endure them.

Pomona, California.