The Supporting Presence

“When tboa pnssost through the waters I -will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the liaiue kindle upon thee.” — Isa. xliii. 2.

What a diversity of afflictions in tins trialworld! — “Waters,” “streams,” ‘’ floods,” “flames,” “fires 1” The Christian is here forewarned that he will encounter these in some one of their innumerable phases; whether it be loss of health, loss of wealth, loss of friends, baffled schemes, or blighted hopes.

But, blessed thought, these trials have their limits. The floods will not “overflow,” the will not “burn,” the flames will not “consume.” God Vvill “stay His rough Vvind in the day of His East wind.” He will say, “Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther.”

And, better still, Jesus will be in all these trials, and prove sufficient for them all. We shall hear in the midst “of the great fight of afflictions” the sound, of our Master’s footsteps. He Himself has passed through these flames, braved these floods, and bared His guiltless head to these storms. He comes to us as He did to His disciples in the very midst of the tempest, and says, Fear not, it is I, he not afraiciy

Believer I what is your experience? Is it not that of the triumphant Israelites? — “They went through the flood on foot; THERE did we rejoice in Rim’’ (Ps. lxvi. 6). “The Flood!” the very scene of your trial, you were able to march boldly through it, imappalled by the threatening waves; yea, with your lips vocal with praise! How this moral heroism — this strange “rejoicing?” It was because the God of the Pillar-cloud was at your side. Your rejoicing was “in Him.” He made you ‘-’ more than conqueror.” You may have many adversaries ranged against you: — “Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, jDcril, sword.” Bat there is One in the midst of fires and flames and floods mightier than all: and with Him at your side, you can boldly utter the challenge to the heights above and the depths beneath, — “Who shall separate me from the love of Christ V “Oh, Sirs!” says Thomas Brooks, “there is in a crucified Jesus something proportionable to all the straits, wants, necessities, and trials of His poor people.”