God often encourages the weak in faith by giving speedy answers to prayer; but the strong in faith will be tested by God's delays. The prayer of self-will may get its answer, as with the Israelites: "He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul" (Ps. 106:15). Faith is the good cable that, stretched and strained, does not break in the storm. Trial humbles the soul and enables it to bear the ripened blessing, and to carry a full cup with a steady hand. Faith is not discouraged, but holds on in patience, expecting the promised blessing in the fitting time. What is the food and nourishment of Faith? "My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed" (John 6:55). To take God at His word is the business of Faith. Faith can never fail of the reward of perseverance: the Lord delights in persevering faith. In trial of faith, let us take heed to our spirit that we trust God without stint. The soul's repose in Him is His delight; and He will honour it. Jehovah sitteth King upon the floods, and faith sits with Him. Communion with God God, in His dealings with His froward children, shows the forbearance of His love; but it is with the obedient that He walks in the fellowship of His love. In both cases He gets glory to Himself. Happy are they who live under His smile of approbation. Fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Spirit, should be the daily household bread to our souls. Unless the great truths of God's eternal purpose of grace, and His electing love, occupy their due place in our hearts, we must of necessity, more or less, misapprehend all truth: we can neither fulfil our obligations to God nor even duly discern them. If we come forth from the closet of communion, the atmosphere of evil speaking will be to us as the tainted air of some great city to one that has been breathing the pure air of a mountain-top, or the fresh breezes of the seashore. Unless our souls are living in communion with God, the scriptures will not yield us their strength and nourishment. There is nothing so teaching as _walking_ with God; nothing so sifting to the heart and conscience as seeking in all things to walk before Him; to hear, to speak, and to act for one great end, namely, to please God, and to do His will from the heart. The Lord guides us with His eye; that is, He will so guide us, as to assure us of His guidance. He will deal with us as a tender mother with her little ones, who suffers them not out of her sight. There is no fellowship with God, but through the blood of His dear Son. It is by this He speaks to us, and calls us children; and by it we cry, "Abba, Father," pouring out our hearts into His bosom. And we can speak to Him as we cannot speak to human ear, because the heart of man is not as the heart of God.