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The Test of Strength

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 14, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 15.

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The Test of Strength

By Charles T. Everson

We have often seen a family go forth for an outing. And we have noticed that the strong father is well loaded, while the mother carries her share, and each child in proportion has a lighter burden, down to the baby, who, rather than carrying anything, is itself carried. The burden borne by each indicates the strength of the bearer, if assumed by one who is capable of judging correctly. In giving a heavy burden to a member of the family, the father thereby says to that member, “You are accounted strong.” A lighter burden indicates a less degree of strength.
So when we find that we are carrying heavy burdens, it ought to be a source of encouragement to us. In laying on a heavy burden, God is saying to the bearer, “You are strong.” As the load grows heavier, it shows that we are increasing in strength.
We have, perhaps, also observed that when a family starts off for an outing, very often at the outset the smallest member of the family will pick up a very large parcel; for he feels himself stronger than he really is. Then the father must take the parcel away from him, and give it to a stronger member of the party. Otherwise the little child would wear himself out in a short time, and lose all the pleasure of the day’s outing. Sometimes we pick up the burden that the Father has assigned to some one else, and we lose our blessing by attempting to carry more than God has given us. We should not sigh to carry the burden that God has assigned to another member of the family. Another’s burden might gall us, but ours never will; for it fits our condition.
But we may be sure of this: as we grow stronger, it means added burdens; for God is using to its utmost capacity every available means for the salvation of mankind. But the promise is: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” In other words, a day of burdens is a day of great strength.—Charles T. Everson.