John Newton, the famed slave trader turned clergyman, and hymn writer, writes in a letter, on 12 December 1767, a good 257 years back, something that should encourage every Christian.
– “The Lord himself is our Keeper. Nothing befalls us, but what is adjusted by His wisdom, and love. He will, in one way or another, sweeten every bitter cup, and ere long, He will wipe away all tears from our eyes.”
Many times, as Christians, we walk through some of the darkest of seasons. It may seem to us as though, there is no end to this walk in the valley of the shadow of death. Sounds familiar to you? This is the experience of all God’s children, the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ.
The candid manner in which Newton writes about the truth of the matter, and the comfort that is available in the LORD, is a reflection of all the struggles in Newton’s life, and his resolute faith in the LORD, who comforted him through all his testing times. Therefore, such stable and strong assertive faith in God, despite his personal failures in the past, and his utter inability and helplessness in the present. All that is made available to John Newton, in the LORD God Almighty, and the unfailing hope available in God, and God alone, is more than enough, to sustain Newton, and all Christians, through it all. HalleluYah!!!
The sons of Korah, writing in Psalm 46, express the same reassuring thoughts. New King James Bible titles this Psalm as, *”God, the Refuge of His People, and [the] Conqueror of the Nations.”*
– “1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” – Psalms 46:1-3
For a child of God, nothing should trouble us, because God, the Almighty, who is the Sovereign Ruler of all things, visible and invisible, and reigns unopposed. Let us never forget that, the LORD is, Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. Let us remind ourselves of, what the LORD had spoken through His prophet Jeremiah, and be encouraged, and strengthened, in our spirits.
– “27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” – Jeremiah 32:27
Absolutely nothing! Yes, nothing!!! HalleluYah!!!
"17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: 18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands...the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, 19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:"