Morning, August 31, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“On my arm shall they trust.”  —  Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust in, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is about to capsize, and no human deliverance is available, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the divine intervention and care of God. It’s a fortunate storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! Oh, blessed hurricane, that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting close to our God sometimes, because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and is delightfully embraced there! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so unusual, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, storm-tossed believer, it is an opportune trouble that drives you to your Father! Now that you have only your God to trust to, make sure that you put your full confidence in him. Do not dishonor your Lord and Master by entertaining undeserving doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that your God is worth ten thousand worlds to you. Show rich men how rich you are in your poverty when the Lord God is your helper. Show the strong man how strong you are in your weakness when underneath you are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord your God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in your weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of your distress. The grandeur of the night sky would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the human eye. May the Holy Spirit allow you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.