1140. The Nestling of the Sufferer

The Nestling of the Sufferer

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you" (1Pe_5:7).

All that we have said heretofore is possible only because of what we now say. When we suffer we must learn to nestle close to the heart of our loving Saviour. There are two things set forth in the Epistle.

1. "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." Isn't it wonderful that we can nestle up close to God and commit our souls to Him? Men may destroy the body, but He will guard the soul. He who watcheth over Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep, neither will He forsake us. Great is His faithfulness. It is fresh every evening. It is renewed every morning. He has said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age." "In all of their afflictions He was afflicted." He is a sympathetic High Priest. He never will leave us, nor forsake us. When the three Hebrew children were in the fiery furnace there was a fourth who walked with them there. He walks with us also when we are in the fire. Does He not have us in His heart? Does He not hold us in His hand?

"Though He slay me, I would rest

In His Sovereign will,

For the joy to feel His arms

Wrapped me still."

2. "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." The tender care of a mother over her child as he suffers, is nothing comparable to the care of our God as He watches over His own. We remember how our own mother held her dying babe in her lap. We were but a lad of ten, but we have never forgotten. The physician told her that she must rest, relatives begged that they might hold the child a while, but she said, "No, I am not tired." And, until the little one had breathed its last it lay on a pillow in our mother's lap. There is never a moment our Lord will lay us down. He never leaves us, He never forsakes us, He never forgets us.

"He chose this path for thee.

No feeble chance, nor hard, relentless fate,

But love, His love hath placed thy footsteps here,

He knew the way was rough and desolate:

Knew how thy heart would often sink with fear;

Yet tenderly He whispered, 'Child, I see

This path is best for thee.'

"He chose this path for thee,

Though well He knew sharp thorns would pierce thy feet,

Knew how the brambles would obstruct the way,

Knew all the hidden dangers thou would'st meet,

Knew how thy faith would falter day by day;

And still the whisper echoed, 'Yes, I see

This path is best for thee.'

"He chose this path for thee;

What need'st thou more? This sweeter truth to know,

That all along these strange, bewildering ways,

O'er rocky steeps and where dark rivers flow,

His loving arms will bear thee 'all the days.'

A few steps more, and thou thyself shalt see

This path is best for thee."

Yes, He not only chooses our path, but He cares for us. He holds us in the arms of His love.

"Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares.

His heart is touched with my grief.

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

He cares enough to be near."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR