It was a hard climb up that hill for a man with a burdened heart; he was tired and done. Then came God’s provision for him through Ziba.

Are you a little past the top of the hill? Feeling tired and almost done? Take heart! God has something ready at the precise moment! God’s help will meet you!

Just a little farther on—and all who honor Me with joy shall prove My promise true; they too shall honored be. Full well I know thy heart’s desire, the heights to which thou dost aspire; thy love which burns with holy fire—and all to honor Me.

Just a little farther on—the “Victor’s song will then be sung by all who honor Me.” Thou hast done well, yet still press on—and greater works I’ll trust to thee and grander glories thou shalt see; thus thou shalt fully honored be—a little farther on! (John 12:26; Psalm 91:15.)

Just over the hill, by the climbing way, Is a place where all good travelers stay— Just over the hill and up along.

At the side of the road is a garden-gate, Which is always open, early and late— Just over the hill and up along.

And inside the gate is a House of Rest, Where the Host will give you His very best— Just over the hill and up along.

JOHN OXENHAM

God never permits any of His children to come up a steep hill along life’s pathway without having provided at the foot of the hill a cooling spring from which the traveler may drink in refreshment and strength ere he begins to climb.

He climbs beside you; lean upon Him!

God has no road without its springs!

“Why didn’t God help me sooner?” This is a question that is often asked, but it is not His will to act on your schedule. He desires to change you through the trouble and cause you to learn a lesson from it. He has promised, “I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15). He will be with you in trouble all day and through the night. Afterward he will take you out of it, but not until you have stopped being restless and worried over it and have become calm and quiet. Then He will say, “It is enough.”

God uses trouble to teach His children precious lessons. Difficulties are intended to educate us, and when their good work is done, a glorious reward will become ours through them. There is a sweet joy and a real value in difficulties, for He regards them not as difficulties but as opportunities.

Not always out of our troubled times, And the struggles fierce and grim, But in—deeper in—to our sure rest, The place of our peace, in Him. ANNIE JOHNSON FLINT

I once heard the following statement from a simple old man, and I have never forgotten it: “When God tests you, it is a good time to test Him by putting His promises to the test and then claiming from Him exactly what your trials have made necessary.” There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is simply to try to get rid of the trial, and then to be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever before experienced, and to accept it with delight as an opportunity of receiving a greater measure of God’s divine grace.

In this way, even the Adversary becomes a help to us, and all the things that seem to be against us turn out to assist us along our way. Surely this is what is meant by the words “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). A. B. SIMPSON

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, . . . Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people.

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord , it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power . . . O Lord , thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa.

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord ? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?—Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.—The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.—Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.—Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.—My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.—My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.—He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him.—The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee.

I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, . . . who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way: so also Christ, . . . though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.—Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.