God is not finally thwarted in his purposes. He sees the end from the beginning. He knows what he will do, and is in no nervous haste. He can brook delay; one day, a thousand years--it does not disconcert him. Slowly but majestically, like the stars in their courses, move his purposes on to their fruition. He swears by them as he swears by himself: "As I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Jehovah." (Num. 14:21.) He can afford to seem to fail for a time, even a long time if need be; but firmer than the heavens stands his word, and he will yet do all his pleasure. Why so anxious and so fretful? Is it because we fear his cause will go down and everything will end in wreck and chaos? It is unnecessary. Let us do what God has appointed us in God's way. If the gospel does not convert a man, we cannot convert him. If the truth does not save a church, no personal power of ours can truly preserve it. Our responsibility ends with the simple task he has intrusted to us. When it is lovingly done by the help of God, we may leave the burden of the universe to the Shoulders that are better able to bear it. Sometimes we take too much on ourselves.

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