Untitled article by Susan Elmer

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 3, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 12

ENCOURAGEMENT IN GOD.

By Susan Elmer

Not only have we exceeding great and precious promises to cheer us in our lonely pilgrimage, but such examples of patience and endurance, such faith and unshaken confidence as was manifested, should stimulate us to greater diligence and inspire us with the same childlike trust while called to suffer in a world of disappointment, sickness and death.

There is one example recorded in 1 Sam. xxx, 6, with which I was forcibly struck while reading it. It is the case of David. After being hunted like a wild beast by the cruel king of Israel he flees into an enemy’s land where we see the Lord made even his enemy to be at peace with him. On one occasion as he returned to his city, behold it was burned with fire, also his two wives were carried away captive. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, till they had no more power to weep. In addition to this, as if to fill his cup to overflowing, the people just at the time when he needed their sympathy the most, talked of stoning him, they were so grieved on account of their wives and children being taken captive. What did David then do? He was greatly distressed, but did he murmur, and get discouraged, thinking he might as well give up? Ah! no. Now comes the sublime sentence, the words of which are like apples of gold in pictures of silver, words which should encourage the afflicted child of God: “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” Blessed trust! This was the secret of his success. Nor was it the first time he had proved the promises and strength of this heavenly Father. He goes forth, strong in the Lord. No doubt an angel went before him, and so we read he recovered all.

Thus it was when preparing to go against the proud champion of Gath. So firm was his faith in a higher power, he could say, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

Dear brethren and sisters, are we at times almost buried in the deep waters of affliction, ready to cry as did David, I sink in deep waters where there is no standing? Let us take his example and trust Him who can bring light out of darkness and good out of evil. Only let us live in such a way that we can claim the promises as ours, and by and by we shall see of the salvation of God.

SUSAN ELMER. Mass.