Trusting God Through Trials
By Eliza Putnam
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: How cheering the words of the psalmist, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” How many professed people of God are there that show such a trust as did David? He trusted, in the dark hours of life. We trust when there is no darkness. Oh! what a faith is this, to believe only when we can walk by sight; when there are no trials, no hindrances, nothing in the way to annoy. Then we think we are quite good Christians. But when we are tried and proved, what manner of persons are we? How many professors of present truth who, when by deep trials pressed on every hand, can look up to Israel’s God, and say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Prone to err, how soon we forget all his former blessings and promises. “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” We forget our duty; the Lord does not forget his promise; no, never. We forget to wait patiently, to watch and pray; to cry unto the Lord. He will incline his ear to our cry. “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” We are very apt to look at others’ wrongs, and excuse ourselves. Building up on others’ wrongs; what a poor foundation is that. It will not stand the floods and winds of these last days. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” And will he deliver us if we are murmuring and finding fault? I think not. Oh! what a work for the people of God in these last days. We are truly like the murmuring Israelites, prone to wander, prone to leave the God we profess to love. The trouble is, that our love is not deep enough. Our cries are not as fervent as they must be. Our lives are not as holy, as self-denying—marked with acts of disinterested benevolence. We need to cultivate more Christian graces, to be more like the meek and lowly Jesus. He is our pattern. How poorly we imitate him. A man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs. How many of us are willing to be acquainted with even a small privation for the good of the cause. Oh! for more of this spirit in my heart; more enduring love for the cause of Christ; more earnestness and zeal in this great work of preparing for translation; to be standing free from sin when Jesus does appear. I know I need it. I must have it, or Jesus’ own sweet voice will never say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Who is there that cannot well afford to deny self to hear those blessed words spoken? He will judge us by our works, not by the show we make. May the Lord help us to have this spirit of trust and zeal that David had. We need it. ELIZA PUTNAM.