I asked him to direct my way so that my enemies would not overcome me. I asked the lord to destroy all that would do me harm.

And yet, my enemies rose against me. It seemed that each day I would be overwhelmed by my fear.

I loved the lord and I could not understand why he had not heard my prayers. I could not understand why my problems increased.

And then, I heard my father say, “lovest thou me more than these?” and I said, “more than what, lord?” and he said, “more than these.” And he showed me my problems and fears.

Then I was quiet before him. I found no words in my heart. Then he showed me my deliverance. 

It was in this manner:

I had been concerned about many things. But my father said, “Let us just take them one at a time. And so we considered them.

My father said to me, “Am I more to you than this problem?” I could not answer him because my heart was full of trouble, not peace. Truly, it seemed to me that my fears would destroy me, and I knew that my father did not want that.

Then my father said to me, “Do you think your problem can destroy me?” and I said, “No! You have overcome the world; you are master of all things.”

And then I saw with my father’s eyes. He was greater than that which I thought would overwhelm me.

And so it was with each problem. My father showed them to me, one by one. Then, in love, my father showed me that he was greater than all my fears. Then I saw that which made my father happy and made my heart glad. I understood that things became a problem only when I let them overshadow the greatness of my father.

I had prayed, “Lord, do this and do that.” And all the time my eyes were blind to my father’s love and care for me. I had not seen that my father was greater than my need, so I sank deeper into despair.

Now, if I take each thing that would come against me to destroy me and say, “Which is greater, my problem or my father?” then, there are no more fears. I can see my father’s love for me.

Now i understand the way of victory. it is not to direct the lord, rather it is to know that he is greater than all that

Which would destroy me.

So, I will no longer hold to my fears, but I will hold to the greatness of my father and his love for me--in all things.

-- Roy L. Stahl