Have Faith in God by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 6, 1870

"Have Faith in God."

By R. F. Cottrell

FAITH is the mainspring of action. Without it, it is impossible to please God. According to our faith, will be our willingness to labor and suffer in the cause. And God will give the needed strength. He helps those who TRUST in him. The doubting, the halting, the hesitating, will do but little, and need expect but little. How good it is to have perfect confidence in the work in which we are engaged. And we lack no evidence. The third angel’s message is the work of God—it is from Heaven, and not of men. It will not fail to accomplish the work for which it was prepared in prophecy, and for which it has been sent in these last days. Oh, that all Sabbath-keepers knew what it is to believe with full assurance of faith! There is peace in believing, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The believer finds rest to his soul—rest in the midst of labor. The yoke is easy; the burden is light. Rest in labor! Afterward rest in the glorious kingdom of God! How I do thank God for such testimonies as the following from Bro. and Sr. White:

“And to the praise of God we would say that the power of the Holy Spirit that has rested upon us has made the tedious journeys, the exhausting labors, and the storms and mud of the West, a pleasant scene of recreation. We returned with fresh courage, freedom of spirit, renewed strength, and better health than we have enjoyed since our first camp-meeting in Iowa, last May.”

We, brethren, who have witnessed the labors of these servants of God at one camp-meeting, and have seen them start on a tedious, day-and-night journey to the next, barely in time to engage in the active labors of the meeting, and can follow them in our imagination from meeting to meeting almost constantly from May till November, can realize something of the strength that they need. Thank God that it has been given. Thank God that they come out at the end of a long furrow bright as a “polished steel plow.”

Brethren in the ministry, let us learn to trust in God. Let us wear off the rust of inactivity. Let us learn the sweets of that rest which is to be found only in submission to the yoke, and cheerful labor and sacrifice in the cause of God. And let all, brethren and sisters, all who love the cause of God, labor on. Labor cheerfully, sacrifice willingly, trusting in God. In due time we shall reap, if we faint not. Courage! confidence! brethren, and we shall save ourselves and bring some sheaves with us. R. F. COTTRELL.