Disagreement with the path, is disagreement with Him who ordained it

(Thomas Moor, "Counsels and Thoughts for the Spiritual Life of Believers" 1882)

"Be content with such things as you have, for He has said: I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

The Lord Jesus never leaves His people. Whether they realize His presence or not, it does not alter the fact, for He is ever with them as their loving and sympathizing friend and helper-true God, yet always true man.

"I will never leave you"-there is the assurance of His gracious presence.

"Nor will I ever forsake you"-there is the assurance of His watchful care and changeless love.

It is possible for a person to have much of the company of one by whom he is forsaken in heart affection. The Lord Jesus does not deal thus with His people. His language means, "My presence shall ever go with you, My heart shall ever be towards you, and My hand shall ever hold you." There is nothing in the darkest and most trying path in which a believer can possibly be placed, that need prevent him constantly realizing the presence and love of His Lord, and quietly resting in Him.

Fully, however, to realize the Lord's presence and love, and quietly rest in Him, there must not only be looking up, and trusting, and waiting-but the heart must also be content with the providential path below.

If a believer would walk in loving fellowship with the Lord Jesus when in the path of trial-there must be a quiet, contented, patient abiding in that path where the Lord has placed him; for there, and there alone, will the Lord Jesus meet with him. Disagreement with the path, is disagreement with Him who ordained it.

There should be not only abiding with the Lord as the source of rest and comfort, but abiding in the path as the way of His appointment in love. The lack of this patient abiding is the reason why so many believers have such a joyless, anxious, troubled, barren experience. "Be content with such things as you have, for He has said: I will never leave you nor will I ever forsake you."