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Patient in Tribulation

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 7, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 21.

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Patient in Tribulation.

By M. M. Osgood

A MOTHER, who had for many years loved to work for Christ, was at length borne down with a heavy load of trials. She possessed great courage to labor, but had not learned to suffer.
Her heart now rose in rebellion against God and his dispensations, and she would gladly have torn away the barriers that separated her from her loved plan of working.
She mourned and prayed over this state of mind as being unchristian; but years passed on without any complete victory. At times she was near triumphing; but oftener she allowed her affliction to hide the smiles of the King she so much loved to serve and please.
During three years of struggle, a daughter, whom she had fondly expected to consecrate to missionary life, became an invalid, and at length was taken so fearfully sick that for a time she was insane. Her wild shouts and mocking laugh were no more shocking, than were her pitiful entreaties for a friend, saddening. Neighbors, brothers and sisters wept; but the mother, weary and sad beyond what tears can express, gently did what hands could do, while her heart sank deeper and deeper in grief.
Where now were all the pleasant hopes of the past? Had not her toilsome, self-denying, prayerful efforts yielded only bitter sorrow?
One afternoon, as these murmuring thoughts were harrowing up her mind, her daughter called her to the bed-side. In the clear, sweet voice of olden times, she said, “Mother, I wish you to sit down in a chair, and sit there till you are willing to suffer all God’s righteous will.”
In wonder the mother seated herself in the chair pointed out, but with a feeling also that the injunction was one she most needed to obey. She was lifting her heart to God, imploring his aid, when her daughter said, “Come to me, mother, I wish to see how you look.” Closely scanning the mother’s face, she replied, “No, you have not sat there long enough. I wish you to sit there till you are willing to suffer all God’s righteous will.”
The mother obeyed the second time in tears. They were tears of contrition.
All her rebellion became manifest to herself, and she now felt that her Heavenly Father had a right to reign and rule, and that he chastened in love.
Her load of sadness gave place to a heart full of joy and gratitude to God, who sees not as man sees.
Years afterward, the mother in referring to the above incident, said she now “rejoiced that it was her privilege to suffer, as well as to do God’s will.” Her face glowed as she spoke of the sweetness of casting all her care upon Him who careth for us.
How many of us realize the blessedness of being made partakers of Christ’s sufferings? “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”
The foregoing article was published in the REVIEW in May 1865; yet I thought it would bear republishing. To some it may bring a sweet lesson.
Oh! how much harder it seems to us, to suffer and wait, than to engage in active toil. But when we become truly disciples of Jesus, we shall be willing to be as our Master.
I remember that when the time came for him to enter upon his ministry of love, when every thing seemed ready and waiting for his work to begin, the Spirit led him into the wilderness, right away from all those whom he came to bless and save. There he must wait and suffer, be subjected to the fiercest assaults of Satan, while suffering for the necessaries of life. Apparently no one was being benefited by all this. The sheep were all wandering on the mountains, while the Shepherd must remain in the wilderness.
Why was it? John’s disciples might wonder why, but to us it has been all explained. See “Sufferings of Christ,” p. 2. “In Christ was united the human and the divine.”
  • Taking human nature, fitted Christ to understand the nature of man’s trials, and his sorrows, and all the temptations wherewith he is beset. He was tempted in all points like as we, that he might know how to succor all who should be tempted.” See also Heb. 4:15, and 2:18.
And then again, when his ministry on earth was nearly finished, all save the one crowning act which was to give efficacy to what he had already done and suffered, there comes a trial of his faith and submission that caused the angels to behold with sorrow and amazement. Oh! what anguish must have filled his soul, when it was so great as to force the blood out of the pores in great drops—drop following drop in succession, and falling to the ground. Jesus saw his life fast flowing out. (For the life is in the blood. Lev. 17:11.) The powers of darkness were around him, shutting out God and Heaven and hope. This it was that was taking away his life by force. It was the Father’s will that Jesus should lay down his life voluntarily, and he came on purpose to do that will. He was now ready to do it, and was straightened until it could be accomplished. Yet to the suffering Saviour it seemed that his Father had withdrawn his love from him, and was about to permit Satan to take his life forcibly away, and so completely thwart the plan of salvation, and make all his humiliation and toil and suffering of no avail. And now behold the meek Lamb. Does he murmur because his Father seems to be permitting this work?
“If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matt. 26:39.
The Father hears those piteous pleadings, and sends one angel. Is he sent to drive away those powers of darkness, so that he can rejoice once more in his Father’s approving smile? Oh, no! Only sent to strengthen him a little, so that he may be able to endure the hiding of his Father’s face, without its causing life to immediately cease. Some hours after this, while enduring untold agony of body, he cries out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
We may sometimes plead long for the piercing thorn to be removed, and be answered only by, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” God grants enduring, when he could not safely grant delivering, grace. Is it possible for us to have nobler or more cherished plans than was that in which the Prince of glory risked his all? Was it right for him to willingly relinquish all, if his Father desired it? If so, there is no question in regard to our duty in every conceivable case.
For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 13:13. Will we not cheerfully suffer now with Jesus, if by and by he only permits us to be with him, and behold his glory?”
M. M. Osgood.
Rochester, N. Y.