Comfort in Affliction by Sister M. Dutcher

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 10, 1868

Comfort in Affliction

By Sister M. Dutcher

SISTER M. DUTCHER writes from Westchester Co., N. Y.: I think with pleasure upon the campground at Pleasantville, N. Y., the place where first I confessed my Saviour before mankind, where first I felt his sweet peace settling down upon my soul. It is some six months since I first determined to love God and keep his commandments, and to try and walk in that blessed narrow way that should at last lead me to eternal life. Since that time I have been called upon to pass through deep afflictions. The Lord has seen fit to call to rest my dear companion. Day after day did I try to minister to his comfort while the fell disease, consumption, preyed upon him. At first I felt unreconciled, but I can now say, Thy will, not mine, be done. I thank God that he spared him to me so long, and above all do I thank him that through the atoning blood of our dear Saviour, he fell asleep in the blessed hope. Is it not good to feel that we can praise the Lord even in affliction; good to feel that we can heartily say, He doeth all things well; and that though he slay us, yet will we put our trust in him. There never was a cloud without a silver lining; and though we may be almost sinking, still if we call upon our dear Saviour, we hear his voice speaking comfort to our aching hearts, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I. I feel that I must weep, not for the dead but for the living. Remember me and my two little orphan ones before the throne of grace, that we may so spend our lives in God's service here, as to be found worthy at Jesus' coming to share in his blessed kingdom.