When Dismayed

One aspect of God's character I love is His ability to redeem what we consider avoidable and even unredeemable.  I read a poem in a book titled, "The Saints Should Never Be Dismayed."  While this is a  true statement, we could spend our time beating ourselves up for doing what we never should do--or we could thank God He uses our being dismayed to draw us to Himself.  In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the relationship between the father and son was enriched by the son leaving, losing his inheritance, and choosing to return to his father he trusted to treat him well.  Having always enjoyed the blessings of his father's house he didn't realise how good his father was until he found himself in want.  Sheep should not wander from the Good Shepherd, and sons should not show such disrespect to their fathers, yet God rejoices when the lost are found.  When we are dismayed, let us remember to turn to the LORD.

Below is the aforementioned hymn written by William Cowper:

"The saints should never be dismayed, nor sink in hopeless fear;

For when they least expect His aid, the Saviour will appear.

This Abr'am found:  he raised the knife; God saw, and said, "Forbear!

Yon ram shall yield his meaner life; behold the victim there."

Once David seemed Saul's certain prey; but hark! the foe's at hand;

Saul turns his arms another way, to save th' invaded land.

When Jonah sunk beneath the wave, he thought to rise no more;

But God prepared a fish to save, and bear him to the shore.

Blest proofs of pwoer and grace divine, that meet us in His Word!

May every deep felt care of mine be trusted with the Lord.

Wait for His seasonable aid, and though it tarry, wait:

The promise may be long delayed, but cannot come too late."

(Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul. Book 2. Thomas Nelson, 2004. page 49)