Patience by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 7, 1870

Patience.

By John Nevins Andrews

We never shall have done with this estimable grace. In it we possess our souls. The time never will come in this state of things when we can dispense with patience. We shall have things to vex, annoy and trouble us always. But we must never fail to exercise our souls in patient submission to the providence of God. We must not be vexed, or fretted, or rendered impatient. Our souls must be kept in perfect peace. Indeed it is all possible that the peace of God shall dwell in our hearts and that all the ills we meet, only make us more peaceful and submissive to God. Patience must have her perfect work, and when that work is fully wrought we shall be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Our sorrows will not always last. The time will come when they shall end forever. We must not murmur at these sharp thorns. They are so many witnesses testifying to us, “This is not your rest.” Let us thankfully accept their testimony and act with reference to the coming rest. That will surely be glorious. Let us labor to enter into it. Our rest will be certain, and speedy, and lasting, and infinitely precious. When the rest comes, then farewell to all our sorrows and our anguish. J. N. A.