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Fly to God in Trouble

Hannah Whitall Smith

Today's Devotional

Oh, that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest — Psalm 55:6.

Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles —Isaiah 40:31.

Is there no way of escape for us when in trouble or distress? Must we just plod wearily through it all, and look for no relief?

I rejoice to answer that there is a glorious way of escape for every one of us if we will but mount up on wings, and fly away from it all to God. All creatures that have wings can escape from every snare that is set for them if only they will fly high enough; and the soul that uses its wings can always find a sure “way to escape” from all that can hurt or trouble it. What then are these wings? Their secret is contained in the words “They that wait upon the Lord.” The soul that waits upon the Lord is the soul that is entirely surrendered to Him, and that trusts Him perfectly. Therefore we might name our wings the wings of Surrender and of Trust. If we will only surrender ourselves utterly to the Lord, and will trust Him perfectly, we shall find our souls “mounting up with wings as eagles” to the “heavenly places” in Christ Jesus, where earthly annoyances or sorrows have no power to disturb us.

About the author and the source

Hannah Whitall Smith (1832–1911) the daughter of American Quakers, was deeply involved in the holiness movement in the United States and Great Britain, and the author of The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life (1875).

Hannah Whitall Smith. “April 26” in Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim’s Day, edited by Mary Wilder Tileston. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1901.

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