"MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND." And the hand of God will always do us good. In good times as well as in bad, our Lord is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them. Many will visit and smile upon us when the sun shines, but who will venture out to do us good in the wintry or stormy day? David had been in extreme adversity: he had been forsaken and neglected by his friends, but not by his God. His God knew him, and visited him, and supplied him, and at length delivered him. This honour have all His saints. He knew Israel in the wilderness, in the land of great drought; and He will know us, acknowledge us, and care for us, and approve of us under all circumstances. He has done so. We have been in adversity. We have passed through a wilderness, but our God led us, and fed us, and preserved us, and brought us out into a wealthy place. We can witness for Him in reference to the past; and we ought calmly, quietly, and confidently to trust Him for the future. He has given His word that He will deliver us in six troubles, and that in seven no evil shall touch us: and He is faithful who promised. He is the friend of His people in distress, and in our greatest trials He will manifest His richest grace.

For Meditation:
Thy presence to my soul display,
And bid my faithless fears away;
Let mercy to my thankful heart
Its saving health and joys impart.