BORROWING TROUBLE by Eliza H. Morton

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 7, 1878

BORROWING TROUBLE.

By Eliza H. Morton

Much of the trouble connected with this mortal existence is borrowed. Imaginary evils, like the traditional goblins of old, haunt our rest; and unless we drive them from us, they make our lives gloomy and sad. If Satan cannot bring real misfortune upon the people of God, he will try to trouble their peace of mind with forebodings of coming woe, and success often attends his efforts. It is wrong to brood over what “may happen.” “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” If we were required to perform the work of years in one hour, we might become discouraged; if the sorrows of a life-time were laid upon us in one day, we might well despair; but our kind Heavenly Father has allotted to each day its own amount of toil and care, and when we look beyond and vainly try to grasp and bear the burdens of the future, we overstep the limit God has established and grieve the Spirit.

It has been said that “our life is what we make it,” and the sentiment is true. We can lead a miserable, blue, discouraged existence; or we can live a happy, hopeful, joyous life.

Trouble may come; but when it does come it is soon enough to fret about it. If you worry, and it doesn’t come, you lose much happiness which you might have enjoyed, and if you worry and it does come, you lose much vitality and energy, which, if preserved, might help you through your trial.

A sunny, cheerful disposition, that makes the best of everything as it comes along, is better than wealth. All should strive to form such a character, as it tends to smooth the rough places and brighten the dark spots of this life, and above all, serves to fit its possessor for that land of rest, where trouble never comes.

ELIZA H. MORTON.

Allen’s Corner, Me.