I found an interesting piece of advice pasted onto the fly leaf of my husband’s Bible, authored by Andrew Murray, an outstanding traveling preacher, about the difficult days he sometimes faced. He wrote, “In time of trouble, say, first, God brought me here. It is by His Will I am in this straight place. In that I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in his love and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child. Then say, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. And at last, say, in His good time, He can bring me out again, how and when He knows. Therefore say, I am here by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training for His time.”
What a beautiful statement of faith and dependence on God. What I like about this is that it seems, from the way it is written, that as soon as Andrew Murray found himself in a difficult situation, he immediately decided how he was going to face the problem. He saw that even a difficulty can be God’s appointment. He knew God would not forsake him in the middle of the problem and would continue to show him His love and give him grace to deal with it. Moreover, He would make the trial a blessing, teaching him lessons God wanted him to learn. Lastly, God would bring him out of the problem in His own way and timing.
The apostle Paul was certainly experienced in difficulties and trials. His advice to us was to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Then we too can say, I am here by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time.
