Not Forsaken

"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." -Isaiah 42:16 [KJV]

Never, surely, was there a promise of a covenant God in Christ more strikingly fulfilled as to what is said in the former part of this verse, than in thine instance, my soul. By nature and by practice, thou wert so totally blind to any apprehension of divine things, that not a right thought hadst thou ever conceived of God and Christ, when the Lord first manifested His grace to thy heart! No being in the universe was so near to me as God, but none so little known or understood. No heart was nearer to me than my own, but to all its errors and deceitfulness I remained the most perfect stranger! In the works of providence, as well as of grace, I had no consciousness whatever of any guide, nor even of needing a guide. Self-willed, wayward, and full of confidence, I was hastening on with the multitude, intent but upon one thing, "in making provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."  

Pause, my soul, and look back! When I take a review of what is past, and trace the hand of the Lord, all the way leading me as have come on, I am lost in astonishment in the contemplation of His mercies, and my undeservings. What a huge volume might be written of both, and in the margin to note down how they have kept pace together. My soul! If thou wert to read them by chapters only, what endless ones would they form under the several sections of the Lord's love, His care, His wisdom, His methods, and His grace, in the freeness and distinguishing nature of that grace; and as I read the Lord's mercies, to note, at the same time, my rebellions! Oh! What a subject would the whole form, in proof of this gracious promise, in facing the wisdom, power, and love of God, in awakening, regenerating, converting, and confirming grace!  

Surely, Lord, Thou hast indeed brought a poor blind creature, such as I am, in a way that I knew not, and led me in paths that never should have known; and still, Lord, Thou art graciously performing the same, in making darkness light, and crooked things straight. And shall I not, from the latter part of this sweet promise, derive a strength of faith, from all that is past, to trust Thee for all that is to come? Hath the Lord been gracious when in a state of total blindness, to bring me by a way I knew not; and now, when He hath mercifully opened mine eyes to see His glory, and to love His name, will He not lead me still? Had He mercy upon me, when I asked it not, neither knew that I needed it: and will He refuse me that mercy now, when I so earnestly seek it, and know that without His grace and mercy in Jesus, I shall perish for ever? Precious Lord! Give me faith to believe, to trust, and to depend! Thou, Who hast done such great things for me already, whereof I rejoice, wilt never leave me, nor forsake me, O Lord God of my salvation! 

-Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)