thy name will put their trust in thee:  for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”  “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked:  but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.  Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous:  and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”  “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me....In God have I put my trust:  I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:  because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the Lord for ever:  for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

Now, this trust in God has been the character of all God’s people in every age, and under every dispensation.  We who live in these latter days may say of all our spiritual ancestry, “Our fathers trusted thee.”  They all had faith in the living God, and believed His word to be true, and His ways to be excellent.  Abraham did so, when he went forth into the wide world, not knowing whither he went, having but God’s word as a staff to lean on; and when he offered up his only son, believing that God was able even to raise him from the dead.  Moses did so, when “by faith he forsook Egypt,” and preferred “the reproach of Christ,” and “endured, as seeing Him who is invisible,” Job did so, when deprived of everything but God himself; when he sat in sackcloth and ashes, and bore the glorious testimony in the presence of men and devils, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,” David did so during his whole life, and his sacred songs are anthems of joyful trust, which the Church of God can never cease to sing till faith is lost in sight.  And Jehoshaphat did so, when in the presence of the great invading army he addressed his small band with the noble words, “Trust in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established.”  And Daniel did so, when he entered the den of lions, and came out unscathed, “because he believed in the Lord his God.”  And Paul did so, when he ended his triumphant life, which he “lived by faith in the Son of God,” with the shout of victory, saying, “I know whom I have trusted, and I am persuaded He can keep what I have committed to Him until that day.”  All the children of God have known, loved, and trusted their Father, and have reflected that holy light which shone with unclouded and faultless lustre in the Firstborn of all the brethren; for Jesus ever held fast His confidence in God until His last cry of faith, “Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit!”

Begin the year and spend it in this frame of mind.  Know God, trust Him, and go on thy way rejoicing, whatever that way may be.  Heaven and earth may pass away, but thou art safe, because right.