daily-devotionalsReading: “And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?”—Isaiah 51:13

Pause over those sweet words of God. Why should the fear of man bring a snare? How much needless anxiety would you spare yourself, could you but live by faith in the unchangeable God amidst all the changeable days and changeable circumstances of life.

Now, mark what God says of your unreasonable and ill-grounded fears—“Where is the fury of the oppressor?” Can he take Jesus from you? No! Should you lose all earthly comforts, Jesus still lives, and Jesus is yours. Can the enemy afflict you if God say no? That is impossible. Neither men nor devils can oppress without His permission. And you are sure that your God and Saviour will never allow any thing to hurt you; for all things must work for good.

Furthermore, can you lessen the oppressor’s fury by anxious fears? Certainly not. You may, dear Christian, harass yourself and waste your spirits, but never lessen the fury of the enemy by doing so. And wherefore, then, should you crowd the uncertain evils, and the maybes of tomorrow, in the circumstances of this day’s warfare, when, by only waiting for the morrow, and casting all your care on Jesus, who cares for you, His faithfulness is engaged to be your shield and buckler?

Peace then, you will be carried through this oppression, as sure as you have been through every former, for Jesus is still Jesus, and will be your “guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14).            

Taken from The Poor Man’s Evening and Morning Portions by Rev. Robert Hawker, Works, Vol. 8; 1830. Edited by Aaron Dunlop for thinkgospel.com ©2013.