Expectation Corner Emily Steele Elliott (1892)

CONFLICTING DUTIES
spiritual and temporal ministry, she might,
even as those pursuers in the bent flower
and broken twig—only with an absolute
and love-quickened certainty—trace
indications of the Hand before her in the
way “prepared” for her and for her alone?
“On the Trail!” It was with the throb
of something like new life that she
repeated the words to herself. Oh, for the
joy, day by day, of continually reading
these indications of Fatherly preparation!
Oh, for the love and obedience which
should prevent her from ever losing sight
of the clew in the covenant path ordered in
all things and sure!
The words of the old sweet hymn, always
sung at evening prayers on birthday
occasions, chimed in with her thoughts:
“Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Lead me by Thy powerful Hand!
Strong Deliverer,
Only by Thy help I stand!”
Had she ever sung that hymn as now?
Had not a vague classification of its petitions
into a general desire for direction and
protection through life been the limit of
the thoughts which had found their expression
in its words?
Her husband’s voice in the first verse
of the twenty-fifth psalm, “Unto Thee, O
Lord, do I lift up my soul,” roused her
from her inquiry. Had that psalm been in
God’s Word for her all along? Was it not
from some hitherto unknown Revised Version
that he was reading? Almost unconsciously
she took up the Bible which lay
by her side as if to satisfy herself, as
promise met prayer, and assurance clasped
entreaty: “Show me Thy ways, O Lord;
teach me Thy paths! Lead me in Thy truth,
and teach me: for Thou art the God of my
salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day...
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore
will He teach sinners in the way. The
meek will He guide in judgment: and the
meek will He teach His way... All the
paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto
such as keep His covenant and His
testimonies... The secret of the Lord is
with them that fear Him: and He will show
them His covenant.”
And this was for her. No new psalm!
no new teaching! Only the high call, to be
one of God’s souls in waiting, had come to
her as never before. Hence-forth, and for
always, she realized that when He said,
“The secret of the Lord is with them that
fear Him,” He meant it.
* * * * * * *
Early the next morning Mrs. Stanton
opened the envelope which, before parting,
Dr. Elwin had placed in her hand, and read
as follows:
“EARLY SERVICE.
“We are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God
afore prepared that we should walk in
them.” —Eph. ii. 10. “His way is perfect.”
Be still, O waking soul!
Now, from the courts of heaven,
With early dew of “mercies new”
Another day is given.
Fenced off from fields of time—
Its span a holy rood—
Unsullied see descend for thee
A day prepared by God.
A day prepared by God!
Mine freshly from His hand!
Oh! through the hours, for quickened
powers
His will to understand!
Be mine the listening heart!
Be mine the sight renewed!
Be mine the grace His plans to trace
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