DIVINE GUIDANCE by Mrs. H. T. H. Sanborn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 18, 1880

DIVINE GUIDANCE.

By Mrs. H. T. H. Sanborn

How mysterious, at times, appear to us the leadings of God's spirit! How strange the overrulings of Providence! Naturally so anxious to unravel the mysteries of life, and know all the whys and wherefores of God's dealings with us, how hard to learn the lesson of entire submission. But such a position is indeed encouraging and restful; encouraging, for having passively yielded ourselves to the guidance of God's Spirit, and learned to constantly eye his glory, we shall never go astray; restful, since in casting all our care on him we have only to rest on his promises, and our peace is like a river.

This frame of mind affords a sweet and abiding satisfaction unknown to the worldling. One herein enjoys a divine content independent of exterior events and surroundings, and is better satisfied in a state of humiliation by the order of Providence, than on a throne of one's own choice. Having learned to recognize the Guiding Hand in each event of life, prosperity and adversity, joy and sorrow, are alike welcomed as from the hand of God to bring us into entire resignation to his will, and to promote the work of self-purification.

However dark, for the time being, may seem the dispensation of Providence, a firm reliance on the ever lasting arms forbids an anxious thought. Trial and temptations await us, storms arise, afflictions are presented,—all, all seems dark; "too dark for one to see." But the submissive child has learned to say from the heart, "though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."

The surface of life's ocean may be rough and boisterous; but beneath, all is calm and peaceful. Blissful state, indeed! Such self-abandonment promotes growth in grace, and the feeble instrument eventually becomes a veteran in God's army. Under the precious teachings of our great School-master, the child in experience, having learned the rudiments of religious education, advances to the Christian of mature growth, preferring a life subject to divine guidance to a wandering existence in obedience to one's own will. Then, since God in mercy veils the future from our view, may we lay all on the altar, and however impenetrable may be the darkness surrounding us, let us calmly advance toward the prize, resting assured that "light for one step more" will be ours. Then can we appreciate and adopt as our own, the following beautiful sentiment of the poet:—

What though before me it is dark, Too dark for one to see! I ask but light for one step more; "'Tis quite enough for me.

Each little, humble step I take, The gloom clears from the next; So, though 'tis very dark beyond, I never am perplexed.

And if sometimes the mist hangs close— So close I fear to stray, Patient I wait a little while, And soon it clears away.

I would not see my further path, For mercy veils it so; My present steps might harder be Did I the future know.

It may be that my path is rough, Thorny and hard and steep, And knowing this my strength might fail, Through fear and terror deep.

It may be that it winds along A smooth and flowery way; But, seeing this, I might despise The journey of to-day.

Perhaps my path is very short, My journey nearly done; And I might tremble at the thought Of ending it so soon.

Or, if I saw a weary length Of road that I must wend, Fainting, I'd think, my feeble powers Will fail me ere the end.

And so I do not wish to see My journey, or its length; Assured that, through my Father's love, Each step will bring its strength.

Thus step by step I onward go, Not looking far before; Trusting that I shall always have, Light for just 'one step more.'"

Judging from letters recieved from the readers of the SIGNS, writings of the tone of the above, might be read with profit; and although written more than five years ago for the Review, the sentiment is still true, and, if possible, more fully appreciated than when we first saw the poet's tracings. May some heart be cheered and encouraged to trust more implicitly in the God of Heaven.

MRS. H. T. H. SANBORN North Scituate, R. I.