On my desk sits an old, tattered book. A book that has been with me for over 6 years. It was gifted to me by a beloved aunt. It was probably printed in 1986 but feels like it came from a much older era. Older because of the ancient wisdom it carries that stands true today. I read from it almost every day, as I have been for the past 6 years. It is as comforting as bone broth is to a sick body on a cold winter evening. It has been a loyal friend, who reminds me of hope on the darkest days. It is like a loving parent who gives counsel, the wisdom of which only becomes apparent many years and experiences later. Yet, what I treasure most is not just the wisdom it imparts, but the exquisite way in which it is wrapped with a beautiful tapestry of words and metaphors.
Below are a few of my favorite pages from my old book of wisdom,
On Ambition
We must keep on praying and waiting upon the Lord until the sound of a mighty rain is heard. There is no reason why we should not ask for large things; and without doubt, we shall get large things if we ask in faith and have the courage to wait with patient perseverance upon Him, meantime doing those things which lie within our power to do.
Likewise, seamen in the life of faith, let us launch out into the deep and find that all things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that believes.
“I want to scale the utmost height
and catch a gleam of glory bright.
But still, I’ll pray, till heaven I’ve found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground!”
Rest no longer satisfied with your dwarfish attainments.
Aspire to a higher, a nobler, a fuller life.
“Too low they build who build beneath the stars”
On Melancholy
Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep; The storms are raging on God’s deep — God’s deep, not thine; be still and sleep.
Give no place to despondency. This is a dangerous temptation — a refined but gross temptation of the adversary. Melancholy contracts and withers the heart, and renders it unfit to receive the impressions of grace. Melancholy magnifies and gives a false coloring to objects, and thus renders your burdens too heavy to bear.
God’s designs regarding you and His methods of bringing about these designs are infinitely wise.
Oh, restless heart, that beat against your prison bars of circumstances, yearning for a wider sphere of usefulness, leave it to God to order all your days.
And even amidst manifold trials, souls that love God will find reasons for bounding, leaping joy. Not simply to endure God’s will, nor only to choose it, but to rejoice in it with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
On Time
The hardest ingredient in suffering is often time, A short pang is easily borne but when sorrow drags its weary way through long monotonous years and day after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. We may not see yet, the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; Don’t steal tomorrow out of God’s hands until it is His time.
Beloved, do not try to get out of a dark place, except in God’s time and God’s way. The time of trouble is meant to teach you lessons that you sorely need. Premature deliverance may frustrate God’s work of grace in your life. Just commit the whole situation to him. Remember that it is better to walk in the dark with God than to walk alone in the night — The Still Small Voice.
Cease meddling with God’s plans and will. You run the risk of marring the work. You may move the hands of a clock to suit you, but you do not change the time; so, you may hurry the unfolding of God’s will like you can open a rosebud petal, but you will spoil the flower.
On Being Still
“In fierce storms”, said an old seaman, “we must do one thing; there is only one way: we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.”
This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you; and then you can do but one thing; there is only one way. Reason cannot help you; past experiences give you no light. Even prayer fetches no consolation. Only a single course is left. You must put your soul in one position and keep it there.
You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may — winds, waves, cross-seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers — no matter what you must lash yourself to the helm, and hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness, His covenant engagement, His everlasting love in Christ Jesus.
