Should it be According to thy Mind?
We are prone to be fretful—to complain of the dispensations of divine providence, and to reflect upon the Lord’s dealings. We want our own way. We wish to carve for ourselves. We would be treated as favorites, and our ease, and prosperity, and pleasure, consulted in all things. And if this does not appear to be done,—if our wills are crossed, if our schemes are frustrated, if our purposes are broken off,—then we stumble, think ourselves ill-used, and look for everybody to sympathize with us. Under these circumstances, God comes to us, as we sit among our broken cisterns, surrounded by our dethroned idols, and puts this question, “Should it be according to thy mind?” Are you wiser than God? Are you kinder than God? Are you holier than God? Are you more just than God? Are you better informed than God? May not your mind be dark, or selfish, or unsettled, or undecided? Should it then be according to your mind? Should you reign, or God? Remember that God acts in the highest wisdom, his motives are grace and justice, all his purposes are worthy of himself: that the least men can do is to submit, and give God time to explain himself; and the least the christian can do, is to prefer God’s wisdom, way, and work, to his own. Seeing God has so arranged all events, that all things must work together for the good of his people, they, at least, should daily say, “Father, thy will be done.” O my soul, seek grace from God, not only to submit, or be resigned to the dispensations of divine prov- idence, but to acquiesce in them, and be pleased with the whole of them! Thy good is consulted, thy best interests are secured; and soon, very soon, it will be seen that wisdom and mercy, grace and goodness, marked out thy road. “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Rom. xi, 36.