| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 12 |
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The same is true of very many divine comforts. There are Bible texts which open to the young. They read the sacred book in the bright years when there is no care, no sense of weakness, no consciousness of need, and many of its words speak to them in thoughts of gladness and cheer. Meanwhile there are other words that read sweetly enough, yet over which they do not linger, out of which comes to their heart no soothing voice. Then they go on for a few years, and at length the way slopes into gloom. A child is sick, and the strong man is watching beside its bed, with heart burdened and anxious. Or he is brought down himself to a sick-bed, where he has time for thought. He knows his illness is serious, — that he may never recover. Now he is ready for some new Bible verses. He needs some of the comfort that thus far has been hidden from him in the words of God, whose deeper meaning he could not receive until now. For example, there are the opening lines of the Forty-sixth Psalm:—
“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.”
He felt no need of a refuge in the sunny days, and never availed himself of it. Indeed, the door did not seem to open to him at all. But now in his weakness and fear he seeks a refuge, some place to hide; and, coming upon this word of God, it opens at once to him, and he runs into it and finds warmth, shelter, love, safety, all within its gate.
He had not felt the need of God’s help and companionship when human friendship seemed so all-sufficient, and the word about “a very present help in trouble” had no personal meaning for him then; now, however, the human friendship, sweet as they are, are inadequate, or they are far away. In this condition the assurance that God is “a very present help” is a blessed revealing, and it is the opening to him of a new secret of blessing. When he knows this all the way of life seems lighted with a new and strange illumining. He fears no dangers, no trials, no battles, for with God for a very present help, he can never fail nor falter.
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