A few days ago, I woke up to a beautiful cool fall day. I sat on the edge of my bed with a heart full of thankfulness for all the Lord had done for me. I had just come through three stays in the hospital and a procedure in the Surgical Center. And God had brought me through this challenging experience.
Spending this special time with the Lord was a great way to start the day. And He wasn't too busy and I felt His presence.
But as sometimes happens my mind began to race ahead. I thought of some physical challenges I still faced. I thought about my wife's loss of hearing in her one ear. And I shared with the Lord my concerns about her upcoming major surgery to discover the extent of possible colon cancer.
Now while I committed all of these concerns to the Lord, I admit that I still felt uneasy about the upcoming events. I had peace, but it was an uneven peace.
My radio was on while I sat there praying and suddenly, I heard an old hymn that I hadn't sung in years, "God Will Take Care Of You". It was exactly what I needed at that moment.
This old hymn was written in 1904 by Rev. and Mrs. Stillman Martin. Martin, a well-known Baptist evangelist, was invited to preach at a church some distance from where they lived. That Sunday morning, Mrs. Martin became suddenly ill, making it impossible for her to accompany her husband to his preaching engagement. Rev. Martin seriously considered canceling his speaking assignment, since he would need to be gone from her for a considerable time.
Just then, however, their young son spoke up and said, "Father, don't you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of mother while you are away?" Agreeing, Martin kept his preaching appointment. The service proved to be unusually blessed of God, with several people professing Christ as Savior as a result of the sermon.
Returning later that evening, Martin found his wife greatly improved in health. And, while he was gone, she had been busily engaged in preparing a new hymn text, inspired by the chance remark of their young son earlier that day. That same evening, Rev. Martin composed the music for his wife's words just as they are still sung today.
It is amazing how after all these years the Lord brought these words back to me.
Be not dismayed whate'er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you
God will take care of you,
through every day, o'er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
He has done that for me and He will continue to do so, for He has made that promise to all His children. And He is faithful.
Lord, help me to trust in you and rest on your promises.
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