A Visit with the Joneses

Carol Jones Saint: Hello, hello there. Welcome to Home Sweet Home. Come right in to enjoy a special time as we go back to visit with the family at Home Sweet Home.

Let me say that if you or someone in your family has been going through any type of problems or difficulties in recent days or weeks, you will not want to miss one word of this visit. I guess that's sort of a foolish question to even think about because all of us are facing difficulties, and we have some special music and thoughts that will be very helpful to you.

Guest (Male): Recently, I was at a youth gathering, a youth fellowship meeting, and the young people were singing lots of different choruses. Among others, they sang an old-timer that maybe you sang when you were young, and it goes like this:

I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul. I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.

I don’t know the background of that little chorus. It's perhaps a spiritual for all I know. But I do know this, many, many years ago, more than 100 years ago, Frances Ridley Havergal envisioned the peace of God like a great river. Can you imagine in your mind a huge river flowing onward, onward, onward, out to the sea?

The force of a great river, like the Ohio or the Mississippi or the Susquehanna or the Hudson. Rivers that can be beautiful but can be powerful. Well, Miss Havergal wrote:

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace, over all victorious in its bright increase; perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day, perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest; finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, never foe can follow, never traitor stand; not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest; finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial falleth from above, traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love; we may trust Him fully all for us to do; they who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest; finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

In Psalm 37:7, we read these words: "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." I was startled to read the beautiful translation in the Berkeley translation of the Bible. Psalm 37:7 reads this way: "Be still before the Lord and resign yourself to Him." Be still before the Lord and resign yourself to Him.

The world speaks a great deal about being resigned to it. There is real value in learning to be resigned. Resignation in the time of trouble is the only way of rest and peace. There's an old saying that says "In acceptance lieth peace." We could change that just one word to say "In resignation lieth peace." There is a great deal of truth to that fact, that in being resigned to that which has happened, there does come peace.

After all, if something has happened and you cannot do anything about it, and you cannot change it, and you cannot alter it, and it was totally beyond your control, then resignation is the only answer. Certainly, nothing is to be gained through fighting and questioning and doubting, but there is peace to be had through resignation.

Dr. E. Stanley Jones tells of a fellow who finally found peace by saying one day, "I just resigned as manager of the universe." You know, there are a good many of us who think we manage the universe and we bear the burdens of the world. We need to learn the secret of being resigned, even resigned to it.

And so you see, when we talk about being resigned to it, a great victory has been won when, for instance, parents of a deformed child can say, "Well, we’re resigned to it." Or a woman who has been forsaken by her husband, who has gone off with another, can at last bring herself to the place where she will say, "Well, I’m resigned to it."

A great victory has been won when a person with a terminal illness can overcome the natural anger and the fighting and then at last say, "I’m resigned." This great victory when a young man who has suffered an accident over which he had no control can say, "I’m resigned." Victory when an individual in the face of death of a loved one can say, "Well, I’m resigned to it."

Many things we do not understand and we cannot comprehend and we will never understand or comprehend. But we can learn a spirit of peace that comes from resignation, as we come to realize that someday the Lord will make it plain.

I do not know why oft 'round me my hopes all shattered seem to be; God’s perfect plan I cannot see, but someday I’ll understand. Someday He’ll make it plain to me, someday when I His face shall see, someday from tears I shall be free, for someday I shall understand.

Though trials come through passing days, my life will still be filled with praise; for God will lead through darkened ways, oh, someday I’ll understand. Someday He’ll make it plain to me, someday when I His face shall see, someday from tears I shall be free, for someday I shall understand.

Now, we’ve been talking about being resigned to it. There is indeed a certain victory that comes in at last being able to be resigned. But such resignation can be rather humanistic in itself. It can express a certain stoical spirit of the world which says, "Well, I’ll grin and bear it in my own strength."

Therefore, I would have you note the scripture that I have read. The scripture to see a far deeper meaning, a far more meaningful and practical resignation that is here. For the Psalmist does not say "Rest in myself and resign myself to it," but he says "Be still before the Lord and resign yourself to Him."

Oh, what a difference. Not just resigned to it, but to be resigned to Him, to the Lord Himself. For the Psalmist, you see, far more important than being resigned to it was to be resigned to Him, to the Lord. "Be still before the Lord and resign yourself to Him." Psalm 37:7.

For the Christian, the Lord Himself stands behind every "it" of life. The Lord stands behind every "it" of circumstance. Therefore, for the Christian, real peace is to be found not in resignation to an object, not in resignation to a situation, not in resignation to a circumstance or a happening, but real peace for the child of God comes in being resigned to a person, the Lord Himself.

Thus you see, you may not understand it, but you can be resigned to Him. You may not know the why of it, but you can be resigned to Him. What wonderful peace comes from learning to be resigned to Him. He may have brought it. He may not have brought it. But with Job, you and I can say He has allowed it. Therefore, He can bring glory out of it. Therefore, I will be resigned to Him.

Here’s a good quotable quote: To be resigned to Him, the Lord, is automatically to be resigned to it. That’s what makes the difference. Many people today try to be resigned to it, but they haven’t learned the secret of being resigned to Him.

This is the resignation of the Apostle Paul, who was able to write as an old man in Philippians 4:11: "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." The secret is found in verse 13 where he says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Again, this is the resignation of Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to the called according to His purpose." If you are living according to His purpose, then the all things of life fall into place.

Another translation puts it: "But we know that for those who love God, for those called in agreement with His purpose, He cooperates in all things for what is good." I hope you know the reality of Romans 8:28, of being resigned not just to it, but to Him.

We know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. We know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. We know, we know, on the basis of God's Word, that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord.

The world knows something of being resigned to it, but be resigned to Him and His purpose for you, for to be resigned to Him is automatically to be resigned to it.

We know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. We know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. We know, we know, on the basis of God's Word, that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord.

Yes, this is the spirit of resignation, the resignation to the Lord, that caused Paul to say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." It’s the resignation of Romans 8:28: "We know that all things work together for good to them who love the Lord." This is the resignation to a person, and this is what we call submission to the will of God, surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, I plead with you, not just be resigned to it, for you may never be able to fully be resigned to it in your own strength. Instead, I plead with you, be resigned to Him. Learn the secret of Psalm 37:7, "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." "Be still before the Lord and resign yourself to Him," that’s the Berkeley translation.

And when you come to the place that you’re resigned to Him, then you will know a peace that the world knows nothing about. You will know in your heart and in your spirit a peace that the world cannot give because you have the peace of His presence. No wonder Mother Jones wrote it as her testimony song. Being surrendered to Him, being submissive to His will, she was able to say, "I’ve a peace in my heart that the world never gave."

I’ve a peace in my heart that the world never gave, I’ve a peace that has come there to stay; Jesus has the first place and I’m saved by His grace, oh, I could not live without Him. Oh, I could not live without Him, oh, I could not live without Him; He alone has saved me from sin, there’s no peace in this world without Jesus, oh, I could not live without Him.

Carol Jones Saint: We're just pausing to let you know that you are visiting with the Joneses at Home Sweet Home. It would mean so much if you would take time to write and just let us know that the visits are a blessing.

When you're writing, the address is A Visit with the Joneses, Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, and the zip code 16512. If you would like to email us, the email address is visitjoneses@aol.com. Any gift that you can send would mean so much in helping with the expenses of this ministry. We want to send forth the good news.

And you know, if you are resigned to Him and His will for your life, as we have said in this visit, then we can be resigned to the different "its" that might not be too pleasant that we have to endure. Well, we do hope it has been helpful to you.

Now, the song that I have just been singing entitled "Oh, I Could Not Live Without Him," we do have free copies of the song. We would be more than happy to send it to you, the words and the music. Now, this was written by my mother, Ruth Kaye Jones, the same lady that wrote "In Times Like These."

This song was Mother’s own personal testimony. She wanted to put into music and words just how she felt in her heart, and she said, "I’ve a peace in my heart that the world cannot give."

So, if you would like a copy of the song, the address when you’re writing: A Visit with the Joneses, Incorporated, Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, and the zip code 16512. The email address: visitjoneses@aol.com. Don’t forget there are many expenses in a ministry such as this, and it would mean so much if you would want to share with us as the visits are going around the world now through radio and through the internet. Checks should be written to the legal name A Visit with the Joneses, Incorporated, and gifts to the ministry are tax-deductible.

It’s been so good to have you visiting at Home Sweet Home once again. As we come to the end of the visit, I think just as one big family having devotions together, let’s join in singing a song that’s very appropriate to what we’ve been discussing in this time of family devotions: "Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Have Thine Own Way."

As we sing it together, make it be the prayer of your heart: Have Thine own way, Lord, in my heart and life. Until the next time, this is Carol saying goodbye.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today! Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, as in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! Power all power surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!