To the Lonely Ones by J. A. Rhoades

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 1, 1874

To the Lonely Ones.

By J. A. Rhoades

I CAN sympathize with lonely ones as I seldom meet with those of like faith. God is my strength and wisdom. He has known my heart and purpose and his strong arm has kept me from falling. It is sweet to shut ourself away from the world and all its sorrows and cares, and commune alone with God, who knows all our troubles. I am aware that unless I make religion my great and engrossing theme I shall be a stranger to all peace and enjoyment. I have at times some enjoyment, and comfort when I resolve to have no will of my own separate from God's. I feel assured that this renunciation of self and entire devotion to God's service would give a simplicity and grandeur to my existence—would throw an unclouded sunshine over all my ways—would raise me above the cares and provocations of life, and hold forth to my acquaintances the example of righteousness, conform me to the gospel economy under which I sit, that as Christ died for my sin, I may die to it; that as he rose again, I may rise to newness of life, and feel that it is my meat and drink, to do his will. J. A. RHOADES.