When life keeps changing, the anxious believer starts asking, "Why is this happening to me?" I looked for light, but lo! darkness came. I looked for peace, but behold! trouble. I said in my heart, "My mountain stands firm—I shall never be moved!" But Lord, when you hide your face, I am troubled.

Just yesterday I could read my title clear—I knew exactly where I stood with God. Today? My evidences are bedimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday I could climb to Pisgah's top and view the landscape o'er, rejoicing with confidence in my future inheritance. Today my spirit has no hopes, but many fears; no joys, but much distress.

Is this part of God's plan with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?

Yes! It is even so.

The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope—all these things are but parts of God's method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith. They are waves that wash you further upon the Rock. They are winds which waft your ship the more swiftly toward the desired haven.

According to David's words, so it might be said of you: "So he brings them to their desired haven." By honor and dishonor! By evil report and by good report! By plenty and by poverty! By joy and by distress! By persecution and by peace! By all these things is the life of your soul maintained, and by each of these are you helped on your way.

Oh, think not, believer, that your sorrows are out of God's plan—they are necessary parts of it. "We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom." Learn, then, even to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials."

O let my trembling soul be still, And wait thy wise, thy holy will! I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see, Yet all is well since ruled by thee.