Faith : Better Than Fretting
Faith : Better Than Fretting
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“ Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee : he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved .” Psalm 55:22 KJV
They tell me that if a man were to fall into the sea , he would float if he would remain quiet — but because he struggles he sinks . I am sure it is so when we are in affliction . Fretfulness results in weakening us , in hiding from us wise methods of relief , and in general in doubling our pains . It is folly to kick against the pricks . It is wisdom to kiss the rod . Trust more and fear less .
If you have trusted your soul with Christ , can you not trust Him with everything else ?
If you have trusted your soul with Christ , can you not trust Him with everything else ? Can you not trust Him with your sick child , with your wealth , with your business , with your life ? “ Oh ,” says one , “ I hardly like to do that . It is almost presumption to take our minor cares to the great Lord .” But in so doing you will prove the truthfulness of your faith !
I heard of a man who was walking along the high road with a pack on his back . He was growing weary and was , therefore , glad when a gentleman came along in a chaise and asked him to take a seat with him . The gentleman noticed that he kept his pack strapped to his shoulders and so he said , “ Why do you not put your pack down ?” “ Why , sir ,” said the traveler , “ I did not venture to impose . It was very kind of you to take me up , and I could not expect you to carry my pack as well .” “ Why ,” said his friend , “ do you not see that whether your pack is on your back or off your back , I have to carry it ?”
Why do you weary yourself with care when God cares for you ? If I were afraid of burglars and kept a watchman to guard my house at night , I certainly should not sit up all night myself . The Lord is your keeper — why are you fearful ? It is infinitely better that you should be able to say ,
“ The Lord thinketh upon me ,” than that you should have all power and wisdom and wealth in your own hands . I charge you , then , to rest in the Lord and fret no longer .
[ From “ Sunlight for Cloudy Days ,” Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit , No . 3345 ( Undated )]
About the Author : Beloved pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon ( 1834-1892 ) was the son and grandson of Christian ministers . He was converted at age fifteen ; by twenty-one , he was London ’ s most popular preacher , ultimately speaking to crowds of six thousand or more at the Metropolitan Tabernacle . He also published many sermons and religious books .
Taken from Devotions for Dealing with Anxiety by Charles Spurgeon
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