David Ralph

Are you worried about something

When the future is uncertain I tend to get a bit (maybe more than a bit) anxious.   Maybe you do too.  I have felt those subtle feelings of anxiety over the last few days.  I am not sure why.   Often it is associated when things are outside my control.  Maybe there are a few of those in my life.  Today, we went to a small church in a little town just north of where we are staying.   We toured this little church.  There were a few tombs of some famous people in English history.  There were hundreds of graves outside the church many of them hundreds of years old.  After touring the church as we were about to leave I came across a little writing that was for sale and as I read it it really spoke to me.  Partly words of encouragement and maybe some words of rebuke for my anxiety.  I thought I would share it with others who might feel anxious about the future like I do.  Here it is…

I said to the man that stood at the gate of a new year “give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”  He replied, “go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.  That shall be to you better than light and safer than any known way.”  So I went forth and finding the hand of God trod gladly into the night.  And He led me towards the hills and the breaking day in the lone East.  So heart be still.  What need our little life – our human life to know, if God hath comprehension?  In all the dizzy strife of things both high and low, God hideth His intention.  God knows, His will is best.  The stretch of years which wind ahead so dim to our imperfect vision, are clear to God.   Our fears are premature: in Him all time hath full provision.  Then rest; until God moves to lift the veil from  our impatient eyes, when, as the sweeter features of life’s stern face we hail, fair beyond all sunrise God’s thought around His creatures our mind shall fill.

Then a verse came to mind…”Be anxious for nothing but in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”   Be calm my anxious spirit.