"YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF." And He careth for us with a father's love. He knows best what He bestows and what He withholds; what you endure and what you enjoy. Your God has made you His children by adopting you into His family, and creating you anew by His Holy Spirit. He ever looks upon you as children, loves you as children, treats you as children. He will not trust you with what will harm you, or where you will be in danger. He corrects you as a child, not in wrath, but in mercy. Whatever is the means, your Father is the agent. He works all things after the counsel of His own will. You are at present under training: you are being educated for eternity. The lessons you have to learn now are for your benefit and honour in the future. Every loss, every cross, every disappointment, every pain is necessary. Do you believe this? Do you recognize the hand of God in what befalls you? Can you say with Job, "The Lord gave" - health, wealth, children, friends, prospects - "and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" Or with Eli, "It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good."

For Meditation:
Whoe'er their heavenly Father fear,
Receive not discipline in vain;
Not one of us His children here
Is fully spared from grief and pain;
Not one but feels in deep distress
This token of paternal grace.