• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

A Quiet Simple Life

Sallie Schaaf Borrink

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Subscribe
  • Category Sampler
    • See Sidebar For All Categories
    • Christian Faith
    • Gracious Christian Parenting
      • Gifted/2e Parenting For Christians
    • Homemaking
      • Free Homemaking Printables
      • The Prudent & Prepared Homemaker
    • Homeschooling
      • Discipleship Homeschooling
      • Homeschooling a Creative Child
      • Homeschool Mom Encouragement
      • Homeschool Planning
      • Gifted/2e Homeschooling
    • The Library
    • Our Cozy Family Life
    • Simple Living
    • Unit Studies & Resources
      • Unit Studies
      • Unit Study Printables & Worksheets
      • Unit Study Books
      • Unit Study Activities
  • Tags
  • The Shop
    • Explore The Shop
    • A Full Year Shopping Pass
    • Cart
    • Digital Products Terms of Use
    • Your Account Details
      • View Your Orders
      • Go To Your Downloads
      • My Account
    • Lost Password Help
  • Donate
  • My Recommendations
  • My Other Wesbite
You are here: Home / Bible Readings & Christian Devotionals / Streams in the Desert / Living By Faith – Streams in the Desert

Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure statement.

Living By Faith – Streams in the Desert

May 21, 2022 by Sallie Borrink
2 Comments
        

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

“The just shall live by faith.” (Heb. 10:38).

Seemings and feelings are often substituted for faith. Pleasurable emotions and deep satisfying experiences are part of the Christian life, but they are not all of it. Trials, conflicts, battles and testings lie along the way, and are not to be counted as misfortunes, but rather as part of our necessary discipline.

In all these varying experiences we are to reckon on Christ as dwelling in the heart, regardless of our feelings if we are walking obediently before Him. Here is where many get into trouble; they try to walk by feeling rather than faith.

One of the saints tells us that it seemed as though God had withdrawn Himself from her. His mercy seemed clean gone. For six weeks her desolation lasted, and then the Heavenly Lover seemed to say:

“Catherine, thou hast looked for Me without in the world of sense, but all the while I have been within waiting for thee; meet Me in the inner chamber of thy spirit, for I am there.”

Distinguish between the fact of God’s presence, and the emotion of the fact. It is a happy thing when the soul seems desolate and deserted, if our faith can say, “I see Thee not. I feel Thee not, but Thou art certainly and graciously here, where I am as I am.” Say it again and again: “Thou art here: though the bush does not seem to burn with fire, it does burn. I will take the shoes from off my feet, for the place on which I stand is holy ground.” –London Christian

Believe God’s word and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea. –Samuel Rutherford

Keep your eye steadily fixed on the infinite grandeur of Christ’s finished work and righteousness. Look to Jesus and believe, look to Jesus and live! Nay, more; as you look to him, hoist your sails and buffet manfully the sea of life. Do not remain in the haven of distrust, or sleeping on your shadows in inactive repose, or suffering your frames and feelings to pitch and toss on one another like vessels idly moored in a harbor. The religious life is not a brooding over emotions, grazing the keel of faith in the shallows, or dragging the anchor of hope through the oozy tide mud as if afraid of encountering the healthy breeze. Away! With your canvas spread to the gale, trusting in Him, who rules the raging of the waters. The safety of the tinted bird is to be on the wing. If its haunt be near the ground–if it fly low–it exposes itself to the fowler’s net or snare. If we remain grovelling on the low ground of feeling and emotion, we shall find ourselves entangled in a thousand meshes of doubt and despondency, temptation and unbelief. “But surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of THAT WHICH HATH A WING” (marginal reading Prov. 1:17). Hope thou in God. –J. R. Macduff

When I cannot enjoy the faith of assurance, I live by the faith of adherence. Matthew Henry

From Streams in the Desert


        
Category: Streams in the DesertTag: Trusting God

Will You Support This Ad-Free Website?

If you value the content I provide on this ad-free website, I invite you to make a donation. 

Your donation goes directly to our family instead of a faceless corporation. Financial support of any size means so much to independent content creators. ♥

We use a Christian company, Cornerstone Payment Systems, to process your donation.

More Helpful Content For You

Faith When All Seems Contrary – Streams in the Desert

Ordering The Stops – Streams in the Desert

Great Difficulties and the Giants – Streams in the Desert

Pruned To Yield Fruit – Streams in the Desert

Previous Post:Out Of The Archive This Weekend
Next Post:Morning Hope – Isaiah 40:12-32

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sara

    March 11, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Sallie, I read this last night (in my book, my before bed ritual) and blogged about it today as well. It really spoke to my heart, especially the quote from Samuel Rutherford.

    Reply
  2. Em

    March 11, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    I love this and thank you for posting it.
    I really like the Matthew Henry quote at the end in particular.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Thank you for your comment. I read and appreciate each one even if I am unable to respond.

Sidebar

I’m Sallie, Christian wife, mother, homeschooler, and homebody. Do you desire to create a quiet simple life for your family? If so, I invite you to explore my helpful content about the faith-filled and home-centered life. Please start here. Welcome! ♥ 

Categories

Popular Today In My Shop

  • Memorial Day Word SearchMemorial Day Word Search
  • Reptiles & Amphibians Fun Facts CardsReptiles & Amphibians Fun Facts Cards
  • Trees KWL - 2 VersionsTrees KWL – 2 Versions
  • Christmas Word Search - A Savior Is BornChristmas Word Search – A Savior Is Born
  • A Quiet Simple Life Printable Floral Art Full CollectionA Quiet Simple Life Printable Floral Art Full Collection
  • "Doe Ye Next Thynge" by Mrs. George A. Paull“Doe Ye Next Thynge” by Mrs. George A. Paull
  • A Quiet Simple Life Planner & Guidebook (January 2022 - December 2023)A Quiet Simple Life Planner & Guidebook (January 2022 – December 2023)
  • Weather Fun Fact CardsWeather Fun Fact Cards
  • Gardening and Greenhouse Venn DiagramGardening and Greenhouse Venn Diagram
  • ABC Order Activity - PicnicABC Order Activity – Picnic
  • 10 More and 10 Less Number Worksheet (1-99)10 More and 10 Less Number Worksheet (1-99)
  • Shapes Treasure Hunt Printable ActivityShapes Treasure Hunt Printable Activity
Receive new post notifications from A Quiet Simple Life

Powered by follow.it

Popular Posts Today

  • The Power of the Name of Jesus ChristThe Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Gifted, Different, and Imposter Syndrome - Vanessa's StoryGifted, Different, and Imposter Syndrome – Vanessa’s Story
  • A Fancy Nancy Birthday Party - Planning Ideas On A BudgetA Fancy Nancy Birthday Party – Planning Ideas On A Budget
  • 40 Things I've Learned By Age 40 - #1-740 Things I’ve Learned By Age 40 – #1-7
  • The Ultimate List of AIP Comfort Food RecipesThe Ultimate List of AIP Comfort Food Recipes
  • Preparing For The StormPreparing For The Storm
  • 100 Field Trip Ideas for Homeschoolers {Free Printable}100 Field Trip Ideas for Homeschoolers {Free Printable}
  • WriteShop For Homeschool Writing and Gifted/2e LearnersWriteShop For Homeschool Writing and Gifted/2e Learners
  • Mother's Day Word Search For KidsMother’s Day Word Search For Kids
  • Free Printable Prayer Journal PagesFree Printable Prayer Journal Pages
  • Eventide Blessing – To God Be The GloryEventide Blessing – To God Be The Glory
  • Number Ordering Activity 0-999Number Ordering Activity 0-999

Join The Conversation

  • Sallie Borrink on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Sallie Borrink on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Sallie Borrink on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Sallie Borrink on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Sallie Borrink on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Sallie Borrink on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Sallie Borrink on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Karen E. on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Deanna Rabe on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Kris on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Amy on The Power of the Name of Jesus Christ
  • Sallie Borrink on “The Simple Joys” by Beverly J. Anderson

Archives

The Latest on SRA

Preparing for the Coming Decade (and the Real Purpose of Controlling Language)
31 May 2023
I’m An INFJ Trying To Save You From Destruction
29 May 2023
Men and Women Are Not Interchangeable
29 May 2023
Munchausen’s Syndrome By Proxy (Factitious Disorder) – Our Culture’s Current Insanity?
29 May 2023
Seven Traits of The Arrogant Patriarch
29 May 2023
Why The Gospel-Centered Movements Caved To The Left
29 May 2023
What Is the Biblical Response to Aliens, Demons, and UFOs?
26 May 2023
The Thinking That Leads People To Being Black Pilled
24 May 2023
Prepare Yourself Spiritually and Emotionally For Whatever Is Coming
22 May 2023
May 15th – Weekly Open Discussion Thread (includes Durham Report Release)
15 May 2023

Blogging Is Better With Blinkies!

Lifetime Visits

17,596,557

Contact Me • Privacy Policy • Disclaimers & Affiliates

Copyright © 2023 · A Quiet Simple Life · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

Scroll Up