As it is the duty, it is also the comfort and support of the desolate to trust in God.  When streams dry up, we go to the fountain:  So when creature comforts fail, interest unites with duty, in pointing us tothe Creator.  He is the source of comfort—­that which comes by means of the creature comes from him.  The creature is only the medium of conveyance.

When the saints become desolate—­when their worldly comforts fail and their hopes decay, they are directed to return to God and put their trust in him; and also to bring with them, those for whom they feel interested—­their helpless dear ones, and he hath promised them protection.  “Leave thy fatherless children, and I will preserve them alive, and let thy widows trust in me.”

Fallen creatures are exceedingly prone to lean to the world—­to promise themselves comfort in it, and support from it.  They generally look elsewhere before they look to God.  Disappointed in one worldly object they often run to another, and another.  They never come to the Creator, and make him their hope, till convinced that what they seek is not to be found in the creature.  God sometimes brings his people into straits, and strips them of their earthly dependencies, that having no where else to trust they may come to him and cast their care upon him.

Even the Christian may need the rod of adversity to keep him mindful of his dependence on God, and prevent his resting on the creature for support.  For after union with Christ, worldly objects retain too large a share of his affection, and he is too much inclined to lean upon them.  His attachment to these things is often too strong; draws away his heart from God, and renders him too little mindful of him who is his portion and rest.  Therefore is it often necessary to deprive him of his earthly dependencies, that being desolate, he may return to God and renew his reliance on him.

It becomes the desolate, not only to trust in God, but to be thankful that they may trust in him.  Those who have God for their portion, have an abiding satisfying portion.  God will be more and better to them than earthly friends, or earthly treasures.  Friends often forsake them; or cease to be friends, and become enemies—­“Riches take to themselves wings and fly away.”  But God abides; he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. *

* Hebrews xiii. 5.

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, while she trusteth in
God continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Those of this character when they find themselves destitute of worldly comforts and supports, go to God and pour out their souls into his bosom.  Like the Psalmist they stir up themselves to trust in him.  We find that saint expostulating with himself in a time of trouble and darkness, and chiding his despondent temper.  “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?  And why art thou disquieted within me?  Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”