'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 24

Perseverance holds out to the end—until God gives the thing prayed for, or takes away the subject of our prayer. We may continue a long time, yet at last faint when the time of answer is still protracted. O it is hard to hold up our hands with Moses to the going down of the sun! Why does God deal like this with his people? What is the purpose of his delays and seeming denials? (1.) For his own glory. The Christian honours God by holding fast his integrity, and keeping his allegiance firm when he seems to be neglected and forsaken. God would never have put Job to so much trouble, but to glorify himself in his faith and patience. God was pleased with Job and counted himself highly honoured through his faithfulness. When the poor soul will not give up his duty by any intervening discouragements, but presses harder upon God from his seeming denials, this gives glory to God. (2.) God intends his people's advantage to delay his gracious answer. He usually pays them for their forbearance. The longer they pray, the greater the mercy. The farmer's harvest-reward abundantly repays his patience. God sometimes seems to sleep and forget his poor children when they cry to him, but he is preparing a fuller mercy. Mercies received after long and great difficulties, come with the sweetest manifestations of divine love (Matt. 15:28). (3.) Delayed mercies taste sweeter and give more joy and thankfulness because the Christian's desires are sharpened by long waiting and praying. When God is long in coming, we are prone to question whether he will come at last or not. How many sad thoughts are gathered about a good man's heart; though he does not overthrow his chariot of prayer, his wheels are driven with a heavy heart. When the answer comes, O how it affects his heart with joy and gratitude!

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, II:511-515
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