8. Devotional: Suffer Patiently

Suffer Patiently

by C. H. Von Bogatzky

  In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and in confidence
    shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

  In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19)

  Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted. (Isaiah 7:4)

    Christians must suffer patiently, and patience is their armour, while God is fighting for them. But when we are unwilling to suffer, going about to make complaints everywhere, and to seek human comfort, or to rid ourselves by contrivances, we lose the comfort of the Lord's help, we are stirring up the wasp-nest of our unruly thoughts, and bring more trouble upon ourselves and others; nay, we are fighting against God, who hereby intends to cure our impatience, pride, and anger. For the more peevish and wild we are, the more desperate is our disease; and consequently we have so much more need of such sharp but wholesome trials of affliction to mortify those bad passions of the flesh. 

    Therefore, we must not presume to murmur and complain, which will only make bad worse; for he through impatience will flee from one trouble, may run into ten others; and though it is possible sometimes to rid ourselves out of trouble, yet the help is not so glorious and blessed as if we had waited for help of the Lord. Grant me to wait always on thy help; for the Lord's good time will come, though He tarry long.

Sure I must fight if I would reign,  

Increase my courage, Lord;  

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,  

Supported by thy word.   

Must I be carried to the skies  

On flow'ry beds of ease,  

While others suffer'd for the prize,  

And sail'd through bloody seas.

8. Devotional: In The Valley

In The Valley

by C. H. Von Bogatzky

    I will perform my good word toward you. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then ye shall pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me, and find me; I will turn away your captivity. (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

    For the word of the Lord is right. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:4, 9) 

    There is a valley where neither sun, moon, nor stars are seen, and in which the Christian has often to travel ; yet in the darkest place of it God is very nigh. This is the valley of extremity. It is into this valley that every soul must go before it can get a hold of Christ. It is here the sinner struggles with Jesus, and says, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." It is hard work traveling in this valley.

    Were it so light a matter to rely on the faithfulness of God in times of distress, what need to give us so many and various promises? If our faith be right, we must also endure, and wait his time with patience, which is certainly not an easy task; since the promise of the Lord not only tarries very often, but sometimes his providence goes contrary to his word, and makes his word seem to fall to the ground; yet then we must remember that these are the very ways and methods of God, which have ever been in the deep, and acted contrary to our expectation. This the corruption of our natures requires; and the wisdom of God ever chooses, first to help us inwardly, by exercising faith, and patience, and so prepares us for a right use of his outward favours. Thus we receive a double blessing at once from his hands.

    Who shall pretend to teach him skill,
    Or guide the counsels of his will?
    His wisdom, like a sea divine,
    Flows deep and high beyond our line.