How It Might Be by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 13, 1916

How It Might Be

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN

DOES it seem to you at times that yours is about the roughest, the most cheerless, the hardest burden-pressed pathway any one is called on to travel; that, to say the least, the problems and annoyances you have to meet are very hard to bear? This may be so, but—

Suppose you were suddenly taken out from the midst of all these trials, and other hands should take your burdens, how do you think you would feel then? With absolutely nothing to do but to look on and observe others toiling on with your work, how would the difficulties seem to you, do you suppose?

Well, this is the very experience of some of our brethren. They have been taken from their work,— from publishing houses, from conferences, and from mission stations, where, in common with us all, they had trials to meet, perplexities thrust upon them, which no doubt at times seemed hard to bear.

But how is it now? While they are freed from all their former tasks, much harder ones are now imposed. Some are confined in prison camps, where they are practically powerless to do much for God. With some, more than a year has gone by in which they have been separated from their loved ones, being able to do only a little of their former work. As these think over their past experiences, very likely they wonder how they could have noticed the perplexities that at the time seemed so great, and long for an opportunity again to be associated with God's work in the earth.

If they could write us what is uppermost in their hearts, would it not be to exhort us to count every hour, every day, as most precious in placing before others the message for this time? And would they not urge us to forget every trivial annoyance, to brush aside every intended or unintended slight, and to buckle on the whole armor and valiantly fight the spiritual battles of the Lord while we have the opportunity to do so? We believe they would.

God help us all to improve every opportunity for hastening with the message into every dark, unentered corner, both at home and in the far fields, while our day of opportunity lasts; for soon the night in which no man can work will settle down upon the whole world, and God's work for lost men will be finished forever.