Our minds and hearts are drawn once again to one of the diary entries of David Brainerd, that man of God who, as a Presbyterian home missionary, ministered to the native Americans in the mid-eighteenth century in our land. Listen to his words penned on March 7, 1743:
“This morning when I arose, I found my heart go after God in longing desires of conformity to him, and in secret prayer found myself sweetly quickened and drawn out in praises to God for all he had done to and for me, and for my inward trials and distresses of late. My heart ascribed glory, glory, glory to the blessed God and bid welcome to all inward distress again, if God saw meet to exercise me with it. Time appeared but an inch long, and eternity at hand; and I thought I could in patience and cheerfulness bear anything for the cause of God, for I saw that a moment would bring me to a world of peace and blessedness. My soul by the strength of the Lord, rose far above this lower world, and all the vain amusements and frightful disappointments of it.”
It is clear from reading this brief diary entree that Brainerd saw clearly that both delights and distresses came equally from God’s hand. Regardless of which came his way, he was prepared to say, “Glory, glory, glory to the blessed God” for it. And while this is hard to do, to praise God for dark providences, as one called it, yet it is biblical, to say the least. “In everything give thanks,” the apostle Paul commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. It is primarily possible when, like David Brainerd, we find ourselves drawn irresistibly to God in adoration and obedience. Thus we know that, being close to Him, He will give only that which is necessary for our souls to live closely to Him.
Words to Live By: It is only by daily walking with God, as David Brainerd did during his short life, that we will be able to accept all what the Father has sent our way. Question? Are you daily walking moment by moment with the Triune God?
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