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Meeting and Mastering Difficulties, April 12
Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou
not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:9, 10
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Some workers who are depreciated by human wisdom are by God highly
exalted. God will raise up men to do a certain work, and as they advance step
by step, they will learn of the great I AM. As His work unfolds, they still move
forward, under His leadership, performing that which He has placed in their hands.
Another man, with supposed superior abilities, may come in, and looking upon
the work of these men, may think that they should be replaced by wiser men. To
his imagination, their work may look all tangled and spoiled, when the Lord is
leading step by step. He would advocate that a change be made. He would try to
make the workers see that they are making a great mistake in trying to carry on
their work. But God sees not as man sees.
The workers whom He is leading may at times be in great perplexity. It is His
plan that many difficulties shall be met and mastered. He inspires the workers
with the determination to make every apparent failure prove a success. They are
determined to walk in the light that is shining on their pathway, and although they
encounter many obstacles, yet they declare, “I will not fail or be discouraged.”
Often men pray and weep because of the perplexities and obstacles that con-
front them. But it is God’s purpose for them to meet perplexities and obstacles,
and if they will hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end,
determined to carry forward the work of the Lord, He will make their way clear.
Success will come to them as they perseveringly struggle against apparently
insurmountable difficulties; and with success will come the greatest joy.
God is preparing humble, contrite men to be valuable workers. He is giving
them an experience that human wisdom cannot explain. He works upon minds by
His own wisdom. Supposed mistakes are permitted to appear, that in unexpected
ways (which human wisdom cannot comprehend) great glory may come to God.
He is accomplishing His work in His own way. He consults His own purposes, not
man’s theories. The power with which He works through any man is proportionate
to the man’s earnestness and sincerity. In all that He does, He seeks the highest
good of those who are laborers together with Him.—
Letter 162, April 12, 1903
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to a conference executive.
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