O believer , what a glorious assur ance this verse is! What confi dence I have because “the way that I take”—this way of trials and tears, however winding, hidden, or tangled—“He knows”! When the “furnace [is] heated seven times hotter than usual” (Daniel 3:19), I can know He still lights my way. There is an almighty Guide who knows and directs my steps, whether they lead to the bitter water at the well of Marah or to the joy and refreshment of the oasis at Elim (Exodus 15:23, 27).

The way is dark to the Egyptian s yet has its own pillar of cloud and fire for God’ s Israel. The furnace may be hot, but not only can I trust the hand that lights the fire, I can also have the assurance the fire will not consume but only refine. And when the refining process is complete, not a moment too soon or too late, “I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

When I feel God is the farthest away , He is often the nearest to me. “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way” (Psalm 142:3). Do we know of another who shines brighter than the most radiant sunlight, who meets us in our room with the first wakin g light, who has an infinitely tender and compassionate watchfulness over us throughout our day , and who “knows the way that [we] take”?

The world, during a time of adversity , speaks of “providence” with a total lack of understanding. They dethrone God, who is the living, guiding Sovereign of the universe, to some inanimate, dead abstraction . What they call “providence” they see as occurrences of fate, reducing God from His position as our acting, powerful, and personal Jehovah.

The pain would be removed from many an agonizing trial if only I could see what Job saw during his time of severe affliction, when all earthly hope lay dashed at his feet. He saw nothing but the hand of God—God’ s hand behind the swords of the Sabeans who attacked his servant s and cattle, and behind the devastating lightning; God’ s hand giving wings to the mighty desert winds, which swept away his children; and God’ s hand in the dreadful silence of his shattered home.

Thus, seeing God in everything, Job could say, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). Yet his faith reached its zenith when this once-powerful prince of the desert “sat among the ashes ” (Job 2:8) and still could say, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). J. R. M ACDUFF

If I see God in everything, He will calm and color everyth ing I see!

Perhaps the circumstances causing my sorrows will not be removed and my situation will remain the same, but if Christ is brought into my grief and gloom as my Lord and Master , He will “surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7). To see Him and to be sure that His wisdom and power never fail and His love never changes, to know that even His most distressing dealings with me are for my deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say in the midst of bereavement, sorrow , pain, and loss, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21).

Seeing God in everything is the only thing that will make me loving and patient with people who annoy and trouble me. Then I will see others as the instruments God uses to accomplish His tender and wise purpose for me, and I will even find myself inwardly thanking them for the blessing they have become to me. Nothing but seeing God will completely put an end to all complaining and thoughts of rebellion. H ANNAH WHITALL SMITH

“Give me a new idea,” I said,

While thinking on a sleepless bed;

“A new idea that’ll bring to earth

A balm for souls of priceless worth;

That’ll give men thoughts of things above,

And teach them how to serve and love,

That’ll banish every selfish thought,

And rid men of the sins they’ve fought.”

The new thought came, just how , I’ll tell:

’Twas when on bended knee I fell,

And sought fr om Him who knows full well

The way our sorr ow to expel.

See God in all things, gr eat and small,

And give Him praise whate’er befall,

In life or death, in pain or woe,

See God, and over come your foe.

I saw Him in the morning light,

He made the day shine clear and bright;

I saw Him in the noontide hour ,

And gained fr om Him r efreshing shower .

At evening, when worn and sad,

He gave me help, and made me glad.

At midnight, when on tossing bed

My weary soul to sleep He led.

I saw Him when gr eat losses came,

And found He loved me just the same.

When heavy loads I had to bear ,

I found He lightened every car e.

By sickness, sorr ow, sore distr ess,

He calmed my mind and gave me r est.

He’s filled my heart with joyous praise

Since I gave Him the upwar d gaze.

’Twas new to me, yet old to some,

This thought that to me has become

A revelation of the way

We all should live thr oughout the day;

For as each day unfolds its light,

We’ll walk by faith and not by sight.

Life will, indeed, a blessing bring,

If we see God in everything.

A. E. F INN

It is the Lord : let him do what seemeth him good.—Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.—The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord .—What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

Jesus wept.—A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.—Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.—In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.