I Am With You

This article is from Issue 4, Called to Trust

By Octavius winslow

“Then I said, Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak–for I am a child.
But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child–
for you shall go to all that I shall send you,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Be not afraid of their faces–for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”
(Jeremiah 1:6-8)

Such was the spirit and prayer of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, in view of the great mission to which God now called him. Learn, my soul, that before the Lord exalts, He first empties him of all vain and foolish conceit of his own wisdom, power, and holiness; imbuing him with a lowly, obedient, and humble spirit; acknowledging, “Lord, I am but a child; I know not how to go out or how to come in.”

Is the Lord thus dealing with you, my soul? Is He causing you to pass through some fiery trial, and the flame is scorching and consuming? Accept this discipline of God as intended to prepare you. By this training of sorrow, suffering and emptying, you shall become a “vessel unto honour, sanctified and fit for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

“You shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid, for I am with you, to deliver you, says the Lord.” This “thus says the Lord” is enough to quell every fear, to meet every objection, and to inspire the timid servant of the Lord with a giant’s strength, and a martyr’s fortitude in the “kingdom and patience of Christ.” “I am with you, says the Lord.” You may shrink at the call of God from a sense of personal unfitness; you may plead your educational deficiency, your lack of wisdom, of years, of eloquence exclaiming, “Lord, I know not how to speak, or how to act, for I am but a child in knowledge, in experience, in strength;” but, listen to the word of the Lord, “Fear not, I am with you.” Enough! O my Lord, put forth Your hand and touch my mouth as You did Your servant Jeremiah, clothing and sanctifying my tongue with heavenly wisdom and grace, that, with a power and a wisdom higher and holier than my own, I may speak a word for You, for Christ, for truth.

Learn, my soul, that in all service for God and man, your true sufficiency is of God. Ever be anxious only to obey His call, to go where He sends, to speak what He commands you, not afraid of the stern look, frowning brow, and angry countenance of man; for your God is with you to defend you, and to give you a mouth and wisdom, such as all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist. In all your needs, trials, and service, do not forget, O my soul, that it has pleased the Father that all fullness of grace, and wisdom, and strength, and sympathy, should dwell in Jesus. Draw frequently and largely from this inexhaustible Treasury, living by faith upon His bounty. He can make you strong to bear, eloquent to speak, patient to endure, meek to suffer, wise as the serpent, harmless as the dove, a lamb in your gentleness, a giant in your might, a martyr in your fortitude. “With Christ strengthening me, I can do all things.” “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Octavius Winslow

Taken from Life On The Altar Publications
Issue 4 Spring 2022