God Will Take Care of You
by Civilla D. Martin
v. 2
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
It is amazing how appropriate verse 2 seems to be to the events of the past few weeks. There are so many people who are burdened through days of toil. There are so many people whose hearts are full of heartaches and heaviness. There are so many people who have been facing fierce dangers. All of these that come to mind at the moment are brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Through days of toil when heart doth fail…” The Scripture gives great encouragement, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9) “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Three people come specifically to mind with the words to the first two lines of this verse. One is a missionary family to Honduras. This family has toiled there patiently and lovingly through difficulties. One man seemed faithful and true. They had poured their hearts into him. Then this man took a trip out of the country. He heard false teaching. He believed it. He took this false teaching back home and began to teach it in the church. The missionary took the man aside and lovingly showed him that the things he had learned were not right according to the Scripture. However, this man rejected the word of God. He rejected all attempts to help him and eventually had to be put out of fellowship with the church. This was a heartbreak to the missionary. This was their most promising worker and a man into whose life he had poured much love and time. But the man rejected the word of God. Yet, God has not forgotten the work this missionary family has done for Him. He will give them rewards in Heaven, and they will have joy and gladness.
The second is a missionary family to Mexico. It seemed that God had blessed. People had gotten saved and baptized. A church was started, and it was exciting to have the meeting to officially establish the church. There were several charter members. However, now many of those people who had seemed so excited and had been so faithful have turned back. The missionary has visited each member in their homes, but they would not receive God’s word regarding the truth about sin and they had no desire to hear the truth of God’s word. Again, here is a labour of love. This missionary and his wife and his children have put their hearts into the ministry. They gave of themselves to the people there. They ceased not to teach them God’s word. Yet it has been rejected. But God has not forgotten the work this family did for Him. And they will one day receive their rewards with joy in Heaven.
The third is the Young family to Owena, Papua New Guinea. Dad and Mom are working among the Owena people in Papua New Guinea. This is a village that has been a part of our lives since I was 5 years old. It is a part of our lives and a part of our heart. Years of love and labour have been poured into this village. But recently there has been heartache and sorrow as people in the church have rejected the word of God and chosen to go their own way. Dad and Mom have poured out their heart to these people, working day after day, praying with tears over wayward souls. Yet, still, they reject the word of God. Now Dad and Mom must move to a different area of the village and begin the work again by laying a solid foundation and by teaching and training those who desire to follow Christ with all their hearts. They will once again pour out their hearts in love to these people, the love of Christ. They will once again labour day after day, praying and entreating with tears. And God will not forget their labour. They will have rewards in Heaven and sorrow and tears will turn into joy.
“When dangers fierce your path assail…” Again, there are many going through the trials of fierce dangers. Some missionaries in Mexico face danger right now from the drug wars going on there. Some of the families are there with their wives and children. There is always danger of kidnappings and murders. Yet, the missionaries remain because God has sent them there to work for Him.
A missionary’s wife in Cameroon recently had to flee to safety after spending a night in hiding. Her husband remained behind to see if he could help those who would be affected by the fighting that had broken out. Dangers fierce continue to assail his path. Yet, in all these things, God has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (See Hebrews 13:5) These missionaries can cling to God with the words of Scripture, “Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. 2Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. 3What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” (Psalm 56:1-4)
Perhaps you have been facing your own difficulties. Perhaps you have been burdened down with days of toil. Yet your toil seems vain and your heart would seem to fail within you. Perhaps you are facing days of danger and fear. You feel afraid and want to hide. You can hide, hide in the bosom of the Lord Jesus. For “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27a) He has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (See Hebrews 13:5)
God will take care of you,
Through every day, o'er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.