The year before our eyes may hold in its bosom events which may deeply concern and affect us. We do not know what is to come. What personal trials, what family trials, what providential trials may await us we do not know.
Sickness may attack our bodies,
death may enter our families,
difficulties may beset our circumstances,
trials and temptations may distress our hearts,
snares may entangle our feet,
and many dark and gloomy clouds, may make our path one of heaviness and sorrow. Since every year hitherto has brought its particular trials then we cannot expect the coming year to be exempt.
If, indeed, we are His then whatever our trials may be, His grace will be sufficient for us.
He who has delivered us, can and will deliver us. He who has brought us thus far on the road, who has so borne with our wayward behavior in this wilderness world, and never yet forsaken us will still guide and guard us. He will still be our God, our Father and our Friend not only to the end of the next year, but to the end of our life.
Blessed with His presence, we need fear no evil.
Favored with His smile, we need dread no foe.
Upheld by His power, we need shrink from no trial.
Strengthened by His grace, we need not panic at any suffering.
Knowing what we are and have been, when left to ourselves the slips that we have made, the snares that we have been entangled in, the shame and sorrow that we have procured to ourselves well may we dread to go forth in the coming year alone. Well may we say, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here!" (Exodus 33:15)
[J.C. Philpot]
Deuteronomy 33:25 ... Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
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