Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Chapter 19—Faith in GodWhen at Battle Creek, Michigan, May 5, 1855, I saw that therewas a great lack of faith with the servants of God, as well as with thechurch. They were too easily discouraged, too ready to doubt God, toowilling to believe that they had a hard lot and that God had forsakenthem. I saw that this was cruel. God so loved them as to give Hisdearly beloved Son to die for them, and all heaven was interested intheir salvation; yet after all that had been done for them, it was hardto believe and trust so kind and good a Father. He has said that He ismore willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than earthlyparents are to give good gifts to their children. I saw that the servantsof God and the church were too easily discouraged. When they askedtheir Father in heaven for things which they thought they needed, andthese did not immediately come, their faith wavered, their couragefled, and a murmuring feeling took possession of them. This, I saw,displeased God.Every saint who comes to God with a true heart, and sends hishonest petitions to Him in faith, will have his prayers answered. Yourfaith must not let go of the promises of God, if you do not see or feelthe immediate answer to your prayers. Be not afraid to trust God.Rely upon His sure promise: “Ask, and ye shall receive.” God is toowise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from His saintsthat walk uprightly. Man is erring, and although his petitions are sentup from an honest heart, he does not always ask for the things thatare good for himself, or that will glorify God. When this is so, ourwise and good Father hears our prayers, and will answer, sometimes [121]immediately; but He gives us the things that are for our best good andHis own glory. God gives us blessings; if we could look into His plan,we would clearly see that He knows what is best for us and that ourprayers are answered. Nothing hurtful is given, but the blessing weneed, in the place of something we asked for that would not be goodfor us, but to our hurt.115