When You Are in a Time of Trouble
Wisdom from Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray was the son of a missionary from Scotland and spent most of his ministry as a pastor and writer of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa.
As a theological student in the Netherlands, he experienced his conversion. He penned a letter to his parents which read in part,
Your son has been born again. … I have cast myself on Christ.
I have especially benefited from his books on prayer, especially With Christ in the School of Prayer.
In his late 60’s he was hobbled by back pain from an earlier injury. One morning he was writing himself a note about what to say to himself in the midst of trouble. As he finished his note, a woman sent word that she was in trouble and was seeking his advice. He had his assistant take the note he had written for himself to give to the woman. This is the content of that note1:
In time of trouble say:
First: He brought me here; it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that I will rest.
Next: He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.
Then: He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.
Last: In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.
Say: I am here—
By God’s appointment.
In His keeping.
Under His training.
For His time.
As I look at this note, I see that this should be my response in the midst of trials:
Rest in God’s sovereignty
Act like a child of God
Learn God’s lesson
Trust God’s timing
Perhaps you are currently in a season in which Murray’s note might help you.
Thanks to Alistair Begg for posting the contents of this note.