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「耶和華的手在那裡降在我身上，祂對我說，你起來往平原去，我要在那裡和你說話。」（聖經以西結書三章 22 節）
凡被神大用的人都先有一個特別等待的時期。摩西的四十年，保羅的三年，主的三十年，都是很好的例子。
可是多少時候，神給我們安排一個等待的時期，一個安息的地方，我們不能忍耐，我們以為太無聊了。我們常不能了解上帝的美意，以為自己被神厭棄了。
要知道，神有時給我們工場，有時也給我們憩所。祂給我們出發的日子，也給我們等待的時期。無論在工作中，在休息中，祂的愛毫不改變；雖然我們看不見、覺不到，祂的愛仍然照舊。
所以安息吧，存著感謝的心接受神所安排的時間和地點吧！── 選
我的等待情形，遠不及保羅那樣嚴重，原則卻有相通的道理，當我以爲職業之門已給我打開，歡迎我投入文學工作時，卻被阻擋了，有一位先進直截了當地表示：「絕對不行，她必須在寫作和謀生之間作一選擇，兩者不能兼得。」
那是主後一八六零年，到了一八六九年，我的「歌之使命」問世，瞭解了在韜光隱晦中，等待了九年，確有主明智的道理。上帝的愛是不變的， 當我們看不見或覺不到他的愛時，他還是一樣的愛我們。祂的愛和祂的能力，是對等而交相爲用的，祂阻止我們享樂，不要我們自以爲進步，因爲我們究竟是否真正成熟，以及如何策勵我們，祂知道得最清楚。——海弗格
上帝給我們準備了工作的界限，和休息的所在，因此我們在極其疲乏時，他帶領我們到路旁的井邊，你當該休息，並將讚美歸給主。
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"And the hand of the Lord was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth unto the plain, and I will there talk with thee."(Ezek 3:22.)
DID you ever hear of any one being much used for Christ who did not have some special waiting time, some complete upset of all his or her plans first; from St. Paul's being sent off into the desert of Arabia for three years, when he must have been boiling over with the glad tidings, down to the present day?
You were looking forward to telling about trusting Jesus in Syria; now He says, "I want you to show what it is to trust Me, without waiting for Syria."
My own case is far less severe, but the same in principle, that when I thought the door was flung open for me to go with a bound into literary work, it is opposed, and doctor steps in and says, simply, "Never! She must choose between writing and living; she can't do both."
That was in 1860. Then I came out of the shell with "Ministry of song" in 1869, and saw the evident wisdom of being kept waiting nine years in the shade. God's love being unchangeable, He is just as loving when we do not see or feel His love. Also His love and his sovereignty are co-equal and universal; so He withholds the enjoyment and conscious progress because He knows best what will really ripen and further His work in us. --- Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal.
I laid it down in silence, This work of mine, And took what had been sent me─ A resting time. The Master's voice had called me, To rest apart; " Apart with Jesus only," Eckoed my heart.
I took the rest and stillness, >From His own Hand, And felt this present illness, Was what He planned. How often we choose labor, When He says "Rest"─ Our ways are blind and crooked; His way is best.
The work Himself has given, He will complete. There may be other errands, For tired feet; There may be other duties, For tired hands, The present, is obedience, To His commands.
There is a blessed resting, In lying still, In letting His hand mould us, Just as He will. His work must be completed. His lesson set; He is the higher Workman: Do not forget!
It is not only "working." We must be trained; And Jesus "learnt" obedience, Through suffering gained. For us, His yoke is easy, His burden light. His discipline most needful, And all is right.
We are but under-workmen; They never choose, If this tool or if that one Their hands shall use. In working or in waiting, May we fulfill Not ours at all, but only, The Master's will! －Selected.
God provides resting places as well as working places. Rest, then, and be thankful when He brings you, wearied to a wayside well.
My own case is far less severe, but the same in principle, that when I thought the door was flung open for me to go with a bound into literary work, it is opposed, and doctor steps in and says, simply, "Never! She must choose between writing and living; she can't do both."
That was in 1860. Then I came out of the shell with "Ministry of Song" in 1869, and saw the evident wisdom of being kept waiting nine years in the shade. God's love being unchangeable, He is just as loving when we do not see or feel His love. Also His love and His sovereignty are co-equal and universal; so He withholds the enjoyment and conscious progress because He knows best what will really ripen and further His work in us. --Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal
God provides resting places as well as working places. Rest, then, and be thankful when He brings you, wearied to a wayside well.
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