BUT FOR A MOMENT | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 7, 1869

“BUT FOR A MOMENT.”

“Our light affliction which is but for a moment.” What a brave, noble heart here uttered words of courage and strength. This man knew sorrow. He was in the daily experience of deep distress. He had been thus for many years. He suffered, that he might help others in their sufferings. He did not complain of his hard lot. He did not utter one word of a sour, morose or grumbling kind. No; he said the affliction was “light.” He added to this the statement that it was only for a “moment.” And could we see things in the light of eternity, as did Paul, we should feel thus concerning our incomparably lighter sufferings. Only a moment and they are all past. Only a little atom of time and we bid an everlasting farewell to sorrow. Not a word of complaint would ever escape our lips. We feel some anguish, but it is light compared with the weight of glory. We feel the pain sometimes, as though it were long continued. But the moment eternal things rise to our view, how transient the pain and anguish seem to us. Nay, we even welcome their sharp stings, and acquiesce in their continuance as long as it pleases God. These deep sorrows are our best friends. They are in our employ, each at work for us, working out the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Faith says this is all well. Not one pang of sorrow less, not one hour of anguish to be withheld. Let patience have her perfect work, that I may come forth as gold.

The little moment will be past ere long. The light affliction will be all borne. Then there will remain joy unspeakable and without end. Welcome the anguish, if we may but use it as our Lord commands.