The Day of Trouble by Ray Palmer

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 5, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 42.

The Day of Trouble.

By Ray Palmer

It is sometimes easy to forget God. Everything about us is beautiful and bright. We wake in the morning from refreshing sleep, and all nature seems to give us gladsome greeting. We feel within us the strong pulsations of fresh and healthful life. We address ourselves with eager appetite to the duties and enjoyments of the day, with every faculty in good condition and every sensibility responsive to pleasurable impressions. It is as if a placid stream were bearing us on through scenery that charms the eye and suggests only cheerful and welcome thoughts. In such circumstances one may naturally yield himself to what seems to be the spirit of the hour, and be only conscious that he is happy; may even, for the moment, forget that earth is not a paradise and filled with innocence and bliss. With nothing to disturb, there is no awakened sense of want, and nothing to lead one not already in sympathy with God to thoughts of God and duty. But the passing of a day—ah, how often!—changes everything. Some sudden and unlooked-for trouble comes. Courage stands erect to breast it. It will pass soon, hope whispers. No; to-morrow only aggravates it, or very likely has brought a new one. So it has passed into a proverb, that troubles never come singly. There is hardly an individual, still less a family, that has not had the experience of painful trials of some sort—losses, disappointments, sickness, sorrow, and even the death of those most dear—following each other in very quick succession. Through such unwonted strain the vital forces become depressed, and the health generally is impaired. The world appears to grow dark and cheerless; hope and resolution fail; and one is ready to yield to despondency and gloom, and to sink under the feeling, aggravated by morbid sensibility, that in so sad a world life is not really worth the living. The end, perhaps, is temptation to suicide, or the desperate act itself, if the soul be without any hold on God. The condition of such may well be likened to that of travelers, whether on land or sea, who have been overtaken, in midnight darkness, by all the horrors of the conflicting elements, with no relief at hand.

But, O thou that hast intrusted thyself and thy whole well-being to God, and believest that his power and love are both infinite, why should thy peace be seriously disturbed, as it too often is, by fear that troubles, perhaps even great troubles, may be awaiting thee in the not distant future? It should not. Nor shouldst thou yield to agitation and alarm when they are seen to be approaching, or are beginning to be felt. Take up thy Bible and read:—

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Ps. 46: 1, 2.

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut. 33 : 27.

“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me.” Ps. 27: 5.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4: 39.

With these and many—very many—similar divine assurances on which to rest thy faith, canst thou not dismiss thy fears, even when troubles come thick and fast, and all the lights of life seem going out amid tears and anguish? Remember that it is often while the storm is passing away that the rainbow in its loveliness is seen spanning the just-now angry cloud, the emblem of hope and promise. Listen to the loving voice from Heaven that saith: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Ps. 50: 15.—Ray Palmer, D. D.