Human Sympathy by GEO. O. STATES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 5, 1913

Human Sympathy

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES

WHILE it is a great comfort to know that “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,” still we all have times in our Christian experience when we long for human sympathy; we feel it would lighten the burden if we could sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk with some dear brother, telling him all about it,—just how it happened, how we yielded to the temptation, and imperceptibly drifted into the world, and before we were aware of it, found ourselves in a backslidden state.

Over eight years ago the physician at the Boulder sanitarium advised me to drop all mental work and go to my farm near Cedaredge and rest. The thought of not being allowed to labor in this message for a time, seemed more than I could bear. I certainly went to my place with a heavy heart. Some time after, I received a letter from a dear brother, in which he made use of an illustration that the present generation with improved machinery cannot appreciate. He represented a father with his sons working hard to harvest a crop of grain. In the heat of the day one of the sons gave out, and he was kindly laid aside in the shade to recuperate. The thought was, as he expressed it, “Brother States, you have worked hard to give the message, and while you are forced to drop out for a time, your brethren are thinking of and praying for you.” That brother will never know how much good those words have done me during the dark shadows of the years since, until “the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants.” It is then that he will learn that a few words of courage spoken in the right way at the right time will bring great encouragement to those who are depressed.

As the years went by and I did not recuperate as was hoped and I was feeling discouraged regarding my recovery, I received a long letter from the same brother, in which he said: “I shall unite most earnestly with you in prayer to God that he may restore you to your old-time health and strength. You have spent long years of faithful service, Brother States, and I know God loves you; and if in your present hour of darkness his presence seems withdrawn, remember that it is only apparently so, and not in reality; remember that the Lord is the best and truest friend you have in all the universe. He stands a little back in the shadows, tempering the trial and giving you the needed grace and strength. I cannot understand why you need this trial, and doubtless you cannot; but God knows, and sometime in the eternal ages when you can study his purposes, it will be clear to you. In the mean time, then, trust the wisdom and love of our Father, and believe he knows best and will do the best.”

Is there not danger of our judging those who do not come up to our ideas? Nearly three years ago I was surprised to get a letter from a brother with whom I had labored for a number of years in carrying the message. I had not heard from him for nearly fifteen years, but knew he had given up the truth. He wrote how much help he had received in reading my articles entitled “My Lodge Experience,” in the REVIEW. After giving up the truth, he had joined a lodge and was holding a high office with a large salary, but he never had been satisfied.

I saw that the Spirit of God was striving with this dear brother, and having passed through the lodge experience, I wrote him, giving him the counsel I felt the Lord would approve. We had further correspondence, and he once more took his stand with the remnant people.