I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
In times of sore distress and affliction, whether in soul or body, saints are taught many sweet lessons. Chastenings from the Lord are all in love. By them our God teaches the soul to profit. "No chastening for the present is joyous, but grievous." In the dark night of sufferings, christians sigh out many a doleful strain. Sometimes, according to all appearances, from nature, sense, feeling, and the judgment of reason, they are ready to cry out, "All things are against me." Hence their courage sinks; their hopes and their hearts fail them; and they are ready to faint.
But they have an invisible Friend always near them. He supports them by his power under all their trials and conflicts, revives their spirits with the consolations of his word; and when he brings them out of their troubles, then how sweetly do they sing of him! How many a joyful psalm, what a rich treasury of experience, are we favored with from the pen of David dipt in the ink of affliction! how sweetly does he indite to the glory of his God, and the comfort of his Father's children in after ages! He believed, therefore he spake. Unless he had believed he had fainted.
O what a soul-supporting grace is faith! It will support when all things else fail. Why so? because it looks to the word, and trusts in an almighty, faithful, covenant-keeping God. Faith consults not flesh and blood, but the word of grace and truth. By faith we endure every fight of affliction, every onset of the enemy, seeing Him who is invisible. As faith is the support of the soul, God's word is the warrant of faith, and Jesus the object, author, strength, and finisher of faith.
Thy faith shall not fail, saith Jesus to Peter, "I have prayed for thee." It failed not as an abiding principle in the heart unto salvation, though it did in the confession of his lips. While the precious Head is praying above, the dear members shall be kept believing below. Though, through the enemy's power and the corruptions and rebellions of the flesh, poor souls may speak unadvisedly with their lips, as David did, (Psalm 116:10, 11,) "I was greatly afflicted, I said in my haste, all men are liars." But in their right mind they give all glory to God, confess his goodness, and take shame to themselves for such base declarations; and, from their own experience, give sweet advice to their brethren. "I had fainted unless I bad believed." Therefore "wait thou on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:11.
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