Trials are Blessings by J. V. Osterhaut

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 11, 1876

Trials are Blessings.

By J. V. Osterhaut

HOWEVER difficult to understand or hard to believe, it is nevertheless true. What we call trials are really blessings in disguise. However deep they may probe the flesh or burn the spirit, in the end we are better off with them than without them.

To this fact the Bible, history, science, and experience all bear abundant testimony. The Bible is full of this doctrine, and experience is in harmony with it. Jacob lay down at night with the earth for his bed and a stone for his pillow, but the angels of heaven came and ministered unto him. Joseph's brethren cast him into a pit, but God lifted him from that pit to the premiership of a mighty nation, and has made his name an enduring glory in the earth. David was taken from the sheepcote and the mountain cave to sit upon the throne of Israel, and from his wonderful experience came the psalms he penned—those streams of living waters which have been the delight of the church for almost three thousand years.

Tyrants' swords and prisons only drove Paul and the other apostles nearer the side of Jesus, and kindled upon their lips a holy fire which burned its way into the hearts of the people. The stones of his persecutors wrung from the lips of Stephen those beautiful, Christ-like words, “Lay not this sin to their charge. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” What a lesson to the church. If the spirit of those words could be universally carried out, no church could ever have a quarrel. But the stones gave us this gem. John too on a lonely island, in banishment, putting the glass of faith to his eye looked straight up into heaven, then seizing his pen gave the church a picture of the glory that awaits her beyond. Ah, the church must forever bless God for Patmos. Standing with John upon that little island, we too can see heaven. Persecutions in all ages have burned up the dross, turned weakness to power, and have added the blood of martyrs to the blood of the Lamb.

Rogers is right when he says,— > “The good are better made by ill, > As odors crushed are sweeter still.” > > —J. V. Osterhaut.