Stand Still and See

I'm standing Lord:
There is a mist that blinds my sight.
Steep, jagged rocks, front, left and right,
Lower, dim, gigantic, in the night.
Where is the way?

I'm standing, Lord:
The black rock hems me in behind,
Above my head a moaning wind
Chills and oppresses heart and mind.
I am afraid!

I'm standing, Lord:
The rock is hard beneath my feet;
I nearly slipped, Lord, on the sleet.
So weary Lord! and where a seat?
Still must I stand?

He answered me, and on His face
A look ineffable of grace,
Of perfect, understanding love,
Which all my murmuring did remove.

I'm standing, Lord:
Since Thou hast spoken, Lord, I see
Thou hast beset - these rocks are Thee!
And since Thy love encloses me,
I stand and sing...

~*~

This poem was written in 1931 by Elizabeth Alden Scott, a missionary to China who felt her heart torn between the Lord's work and the insatiable desire to marry her fellow missionary, John Stam. But the banner of their relationship was always "God first," and so Elizabeth felt it necessary to leave for China and surrender all of her heart's desires to the one who held her times in His safe hands.

About eight months after she sailed to China, John finished his studies and with no other barriers left in the way, he also embarked for Shanghai- having no idea whether or not he would find Elizabeth there. 'Doubts were eating away at his hopes. He was so sure of his love for her - was she not so sure of hers for him? Had he honestly desired nothing but the will of God? Was he willing to face life without this loved woman?'

God knew what He was doing. Just before John arrived, Elizabeth had to return from the work in northern Anhwei to the main city of Shanghai in order to have a tonsillectomy, which kept her there for several weeks. Needless to say, when John found Betty at the missionary headquarters upon his arrival, his joy could not be contained. He immediately proposed. She said yes.

'It was a long year that passed after John and Betty said good-bye. When they met again, it was the eve of their wedding.'

They were happily married on the morning of October 25, 1933. In December of 1934 - two months after their first child had been born - John and Betty we captured by Chinese communists, marched half-naked through the village streets, and beheaded.

~*~

This is not a sad story; and this is not the wrong ending. God was faithful in the lives of this man and woman to accomplish His purposes. They kept Him as their greatest priority and, as a result, he brought them great happiness together and shortly thereafter called them to glory.

We should not shake our fists at the barriers and frustrations that God allows into our lives - they are for our sanctification; they force us to put faith in God, not in ourselves and not in others. Who hopes for what he already sees?

...oh for grace to trust Him more...