Children of God… will you not bear witness, that, through all your trials and troubles, the faithfulness of your Savior’s love has been the “very joy of your hearts?” You have had many crosses and losses – has He ever deserted you? You have been in severe afflictions, and have seen the flowers of many a “sweet hope” wither and decay – did your Friend desert you then? Others may have proved faithless – all other help may have failed you – friendship’s help, promised help, expected help – all, all may have been but as the foam upon the billow, as the footsteps in the sand – but, has Christ ever failed you? Could you, in the darkest and the saddest hour of your grief, say to Him? “Lord, You have promised what You did not perform.” Will you not bear witness concerning the past? – “Not one good thing has failed, of all that the Lord has promised – all has come to pass.”
— John MacDuff (1818–1895), Pfarrer, Hymnendichter und Autor christlicher Erbauungsliteratur
Related Bible passage: JOS.23.14
Topics: Faith & Trust, Grief & Comfort, Hope & Confidence
Occasions: Comfort, Encouragement
John MacDuff
John Ross Macduff (1818–1895) war ein schottischer presbyterianischer Pfarrer und Autor, der unter anderem in Glasgow und später in England wirkte. Im 19. Jahrhundert wurde er durch weit verbreitete Andachtsbücher, Gebetssammlungen und Kirchenlieder bekannt, die seelsorglichen Zuspruch und biblische Verheißungen in den Mittelpunkt stellten. Heutigen Bibellesern begegnen seine Schriften als Beispiele protestantischer Erbauungsliteratur, die biblische Texte auf persönliche Lebensfragen und Erfahrungen von Leid beziehen.
All quotes by John MacDuff (11)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I would not be able to seek you if you had not already found me.
Augustine of Hippo
Blaise Pascal
Augustine of Hippo
Gertrud von le Fort
Oswald Chambers
No one can fall deeper than into the hand of God.
Peter Hahne
God seeks you more than your offering.
Augustine of Hippo