p. 166 | ARE WE WEARY? by Eliza Putnam

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 1, 1868

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 11.

ARE WE WEARY?

By Eliza Putnam

Look up, you that are faint and weary, to things above, and cease to dwell upon trials and disappointments. We often hear it said, Oh! I am so weary of life. I have had some severe trials to pass through, and the way looks dark before me; yet we often see those that have had their hearts torn by bitter anguish. Some have lain away their dear friends, that the ties of nature bind close to their heart strings, never to look upon their sweet faces again until the last loud trumpet shall sound to wake the sleeping dead. Then, oh! then we shall see those we have last looked upon a lifeless corpse, an immortal body, if they die in that blessed hope of immortality. Then look up. Why so downcast? There are trials to be borne in the way to Heaven. We may have the scorn of an ungodly world. We may see our most dearly cherished friends turn away from us; but look up, there is a friend that will never leave nor forsake us. Trust him, yes, trust to him to raise those up that will prove to be true-hearted friends. Those that scorn God's chosen few, we are far better off without their friendship, if friendship it can be called. When we started we bargained for the displeasure of a sin-loving world, and why now feel so weary and forsaken when the trials come. Life's sharp anguish must be borne; and if we can bear the disappointments with patience, how much easier the trials of life do appear. We have a strong arm to lean upon; not the arm of flesh. No, the puny arm of man is but a slight support in the time of trouble. How much the people of God have to cheer them on. They have that which the world cannot give or take away. A calm, peaceful mind, a hope of a life where we shall no more droop and die.

How much we have to encourage us on, and how little to entice us to turn back to the sinfulness of the world. It makes our hearts ache when we look upon the sinfulness of the present day. We long to see Jesus coming upon the great white cloud to gather his weary but patient waiting ones home. Let us take courage, knowing that we have but a little while longer to struggle on. Soon He that is to come will come and will not tarry. Oh! may we wait patiently his own good, appointed time. He knows best what trials we need to purify us for the kingdom. May we ever look up and say, Thy will, not mine, be done.

ELIZA PUTNAM.

Kennebec Co., Me., July 31, 1868.