"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa. 41:10) "The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace." (Psalm 29:11)

James Black, formerly of Free St. Georges in Edinburgh, describes a trip he took through the tulip fields of Holland. He says that the beautiful beds of flowers were divided by canals which were crossed by foot-wide planks. As Dr. Black and his party visited the various beds of brilliant flowers they had to cross these little canals on the narrow planks. When they came to a canal that was twelve feet wide, they hesitated. The plank seemed so narrow. Would the owner of the field make a wider bridge for them across the canal? No. He blew a whistle and a man came and handed them a thin pole which made it easy to cross the canal on the narrow plank.

Dr. Black says that he then made a marvelous discovery. "How easily you can cross the narrowest plank if only you have something to hold on to." You can go through life with all its tensions, all its uncertainties, and all its changes if you have something to hold on to. (From Pastor's Annualby William Austin, p. 256)