THE HYMN WRITER, William Williams, wrote the following words: “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, Feed me now and evermore; Bread of heaven, Feed me now and evermore.”
IN 1 CHRONICLES 29:15, David wrote, “For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers.” We are also told that Abraham lived in a tent in the land that God had promised, because “he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). So often Christians (me included) forget that this world is not our home. We are needy pilgrims, daily dependent upon the providence of God, headed for a Promised Land, the glorious City of God. Yet as we travel in this “barren land” we find ourselves prone to physical, emotional, and spiritual weaknesses, troubles, and trials. There are so many weights and sins that “cling so closely” (Hebrews 12:1) that sink us down into despair, discouragement, depression, and disappointment. We also have constant and continual attacks from the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).
BESIDES ALL THIS, we must daily deal with the remnants of indwelling sin as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:15-19, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” And so the hymn declares, “I am weak, but Thou art mighty. Hold me with Thy powerful hand.” Believer in Christ, our comfort is found in those four words, “BUT THOU ART MIGHTY.” Yes, we are needy pilgrims, but our God is a mighty God with a mighty hand who upholds us with His strong power. And so, we come boldly before the throne of grace so that we might “find mercy and grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). Therefore, let us confidently sing, “Bread of Heaven, feed me now and evermore.”
Tuesday Encouragement: September 9, 2025
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
