Evidence of His Love
We can trust God without visible evidence, and in doing so, we will receive more visible evidences of His love.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about trusting God's timing and faithfulness, emphasizing that God knows when to provide visible signs of encouragement and when to withhold them. He encourages believers to trust in God's Word and promises, even when all visible evidence seems absent, as those who trust God without needing physical proof receive the greatest manifestations of His love. Cowman reminds the congregation that delays in answered prayers are not denials, but rather God's way of working out His purpose and timing for their lives.
Text
"But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him...And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf" (Gen. 8:9-11).
God knows just when to withhold from us any visible sign of encouragement, and when to grant us such a sign. How good it is that we may trust Him anyway! When all visible evidences that He is remembering us are withheld, that is best; He wants us to realize that His Word, His promise of remembrance, is more substantial and dependable than any evidence of our senses. When He sends the visible evidence, that is well also; we appreciate it all the more after we have trusted Him without it. Those who are readiest to trust God without other evidence than His Word always receive the greatest number of visible evidences of His love. --C. G. Trumbull
"Believing Him; if storm-clouds gather darkly 'round,
And even if the heaven seem brass, without a sound?
He hears each prayer and even notes the sparrow's fall.
"And praising Him; when sorrow, grief, and pain are near,
And even when we lose the thing that seems most dear?
Our loss is gain. Praise Him; in Him we have our All.
"Our hand in His; e'en though the path seems long and drear
We scarcely see a step ahead, and almost fear?
He guides aright. He has it thus to keep us near.
"And satisfied; when every path is blocked and bare,
And worldly things are gone and dead which were so fair?
Believe and rest and trust in Him, He comes to stay."
Delays are not refusals; many a prayer is registered, and underneath it the words: "My time is not yet come." God has a set time as well as a set purpose, and He who orders the bounds of our habitation orders also the time of our deliverance. --Selected
Sermon Outline
- I. Trusting God without visible evidence
- A. God's Word is more substantial than any evidence of our senses
- B. Visible evidence is not necessary for trusting God
- C. Those who trust God without visible evidence receive more visible evidences of His love
- II. Praising God in the midst of sorrow and pain
- A. Our loss is gain
- B. Praise Him; in Him we have our All
- III. Walking with God through the long and drear path
- A. He guides aright
- B. He has it thus to keep us near
- IV. Finding satisfaction in God's timing
- A. Delays are not refusals
- B. God has a set time and purpose
Key Quotes
“Those who are readiest to trust God without other evidence than His Word always receive the greatest number of visible evidences of His love.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Delays are not refusals; many a prayer is registered, and underneath it the words: ''My time is not yet come.''” — Charles E. Cowman
“Our loss is gain. Praise Him; in Him we have our All.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We should trust God without visible evidence, knowing that His Word is more substantial than any evidence of our senses.
- We should praise God in the midst of sorrow and pain, knowing that our loss is gain and that in Him we have our All.
- We should be patient and trust in God's timing, knowing that delays are not refusals and that God has a set time and purpose.