p. 115 | STRONG IN WEAKNESS by Sel.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 13, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 15.

STRONG IN WEAKNESS.

By Sel.

“To suffer and grow strong.” It is not the natural sequence. Suffering begets weakness, as a rule. Few suffer long and keep their vigor undiminished.

And we must all suffer. All? They are few who escape suffering. It comes to each in some form—suffering of the body, or mental anguish, or keen hurt of the soul. Does it come ever with a blessing? We know it does. We know that some characters find perfection through sorrow, even as Christ found his.

For was there not a progression in our Saviour’s life? He was tempted, and in many forms; did he not grow strong to resist temptation? Surely that final test was a hard one when he hung alone in the death agony, and his heart cried out so piteously after the Father. It was bad enough to be forgotten of men, and bruised for their iniquities; it was infinitely worse to be forsaken of God.

Through the suffering of sympathetic ministry, of the scorn of unbelievers, of long and bitter temptation, of agonizing prayer, of denial and betraying, of taunts and tortures, the Son of man grew strong. Through suffering of some sort, the best strength must come to each of us. When out of suffering comes strength, then is suffering a blessing. How shall the strength come? The answer may be found in Christ’s own life. He prayed much. He trusted ever in the Father and the Father’s love. In his prayers and his trust he grew strong. How else can men grow strong today?—Sel.