Our Afflictions by Jesse Dorcas

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 15, 1871

Our Afflictions.

By Jesse Dorcas

THE prophet is directed to say, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” And again we read, “Who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.” But many of us are pining and dying, both spiritually and physically, and all for the want of more faith in God; faith in our blessed Redeemer’s gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth.” We are also admonished, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray,” also, “The just shall live by [his] faith.” Do we believe it? God hears prayer.

If we would more cheerfully and faithfully obey the voice of our God, and serve him acceptably, then it would be better with us. See the blessings and curses pronounced upon ancient Israel. See also Isaiah 58:13: “Then shall thy health spring forth speedily.” I firmly believe that much of our affliction as a people is owing to our want of correct living, and that our sins separate between us and our God, as the Lord has said their afflictions shall be multiplied that hasten after a strange God.

JESSE DORCAS.