“He went out, not knowing whither he went” (Heb. 11:9).

The author of an old devotional book, called “Days of Heaven upon Earth”‘ likened his trip across the ocean and our journey in life to the story of Abraham. In this light he wrote:

It is faith without sight. When we can see, it is not faith, but reasoning. In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of faith. We saw no path upon the sea, nor sign of the shore. And yet day by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea. And when we came within twenty miles of land, we knew where we were as exactly as if we had seen it all three thousand miles ahead.

How had we measured and marked our course? Day by day our captain had taken his instruments and, looking up to the sky, had fixed his course by the sun. He was sailing by the heavenly, not the earthly lights.

So faith looks up and sails on, by God’s great Sun, not seeing one shore line or earthly lighthouse or path upon the way. Often its steps seem to lead into utter uncertainty, and even darkness and disaster; but He opens the way, and often makes such midnight hours the very gates of day. Let us go forth this day, not knowing, but trusting.

May we never forget,”without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”–Hebrews 11:6

We live in confusing times and the only solution is confidence in Christ. Instead of depending on self or the advice of others we need to look to the Lord for direction. I love this story told by Dr. Paul Chappell that illustrates this point:

While driving in a remote camping area, the father of a vacationing family came across a large sign that read, “Road Closed. Do Not Enter.” The man proceeded around the sign because he was confident it would save them time. His wife was resistant to the adventure, but there was no turning back for this persistent road warrior. After a few miles of successful navigation, he began to boast about his gift of discernment. His proud smile was quickly replaced with humble sweat when the road led to a washed-out bridge. He turned the car around and retraced his tracks to the main road. When they arrived at the original warning sign he was greeted by large letters on the back of the sign “Welcome back, stupid!”

Sometimes we can have utmost confidence in ourselves to figure out issues or fix problems but we let ourselves down. Confidence is only as good as the object it’s placed in. When going through life, the wise person places their confidence in an unchanging, all-powerful God.

When you face a problem or come upon life’s challenges, what’s your first course of action? God desires that you would turn to Him for strength and place your confidence in Him. As He reminds the believer in 1 Peter 1, your salvation is bought by His powerful blood and He alone has the strength to help in your daily life.

The human reaction to difficulty is self-reliance, but God wants you to be Jesus-reliant. Man can plan and scheme but only God controls the situation entirely. Take a few minutes now to lay your problems before God. Give up your control of the situation, and place your confidence in Christ’s plan.

The knowledge of Christ is profound and large; all other sciences are but shadows; this is a boundless, bottomless ocean. Though something of Christ be unfolded in one age, and something in another, yet eternity itself cannot fully unfold him. There be many excellent things in Christ, that the most eagle-eyed believer has not yet seen.

It is in the studying of Christ, as in the planting of a new discovered country; at first men sit down by the sea-side, upon the skirts and borders of the land; and there they dwell, but by degrees they search farther and farther into the heart of the country. Ah, the best of us are yet but upon the borders of this vast continent!

Take heed that you rest not satisfied with that knowledge of Christ you have attained, but grow on towards perfection. It is the sin, even of the best of saints, when they see how deep the knowledge of Christ lies, and what pains they must take to dig for it, to throw aside the shovel of duty, and cry, “Dig, we cannot.”

To your work, Christians, to your work; let not your candle go out: devote yourselves to this study, count all but dross in comparison of that excellency which is in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. –John Flavel, 1671

“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother; my soul is even as a weaned child.” Psalm 131:2

The first object from which our heavenly Father weans his child, is the idol SELF! Of all idols, this he finds the hardest to abandon! When man in paradise aspired to be as God–God was dethroned from his soul, and the creature became as a deity to itself! From that moment, the idolatry of self has been the great and universal crime of our race!

In the soul of the regenerate, divine grace has done much to dethrone this idol–and to reinstate God. The work, however, is but partially accomplished. The dishonored and rejected rival is reluctant to relinquish his throne, and yield to the supreme control and sway of another. Thus, much still lingers in the heart which the Spirit has renewed and inhabits, of . . .
self-esteem,
self-confidence,
self-seeking,
and self-love.
From all this, our Father seeks to wean us!

From our own wisdom, which is but folly;
from our own strength, which is but weakness;
from our own wills, which are often as an uncurbed steed;
from our own ways, which are crooked;
from our own hearts, which are deceitful;
from our own judgments, which are dark;
from our own ends, which are narrow and selfish
–He would wean and detach us, that our souls may get more and more back to their original center of repose–God Himself!

From SELF, God would gently and tenderly, but effectually, wean us–that we may learn . . .
to rely upon His wisdom,
to repose in His strength,
to consult His honor, and
to seek His glory and smile, supremely and alone.

—By Octavius Winslow, 1808-1878

Earth is to its inhabitants, neither a paradise nor
a desert. If it has not all the beautiful scenes and
productions of a paradise—so neither has it all the
dreariness and desolation of a desert. This world is
called “a valley of tears,” but it is not less true that
it is sometimes a valley without the tears. It often
wears a smiling aspect, and reflects the light of
God’s graciousness and bounty.

We know very well that man’s chief portion lies in
the blessings of salvation, and the hope of eternal
glory. These are so vast as almost to reduce all else
to nothing. Full pardon of sin, and the hope of an
eternity of pure and perfect felicity, are such
amazing expectations, as might seem to render
us absolutely indifferent alike to . . .
poverty and riches;
pain and ease;
obscurity and renown.

How little would it signify to him who was going to take
possession of a kingdom and a throne, whether he traveled
through a desert or a garden; or whether he dined meagerly
or sumptuously; or whether he had all best accommodations
and conveniences along the way. His thoughts would be so
engrossed with the permanent scenes of greatness, grandeur,
power, and wealth before him—as to be almost insensible to
the privations or comforts along the way. So it is, with a
Christian traveling to glory, honor, immortality and
eternal life!

It is incumbent upon Christians to let their spirit and
conduct be consistent with the hope of eternal glory,
in that eminent spirituality and heavenliness of mind,
which are manifested in a supreme, constant, and
practical regard to divine and eternal things.
—By John Angell James, 1785-1859