“Thy LORD makes poor, and makes rich: He brings low, and lifts up.” 1 Samuel 2:7.

All my changes come-
– from Him who never changes!
If I had grown rich-
I should have seen His hand in it.
And I should have praised Him.
Let me equally see His hand-
– if I am made poor.
And let me as heartily praise Him.
When we go down in the world-
– it is of the LORD!
And so we may take it patiently!!
When we rise in the world-
– it is of the LORD!
And we may accept it thankfully!!
In any case-
The LORD has done it!
And it is very well done!!
It seems that the Lord’s way is-
– to lower those whom He means to raise and
– to strip those whom He intends to clothe.
If it is His way-
– it is the wisest and best way!
If I am now enduring the bringing low-
I may well rejoice, because I see in it the preface to the lifting up.
The more we are humbled by grace-
– the more we shall be exalted in glory!
That impoverishment which will be overruled for our enrichment is to be welcomed!
“LORD!
You have taken me down of late and made me feel my insignificance and sin.
It is not a pleasant experience.
But I pray to you to make it a profitable one to me.
You would thus fit me to bear a greater weight of delight and of usefulness. Amen!”
(PA)