OUR LIGHT AFFLICTIONS by Mrs. N. A. Merrill

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 21, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 41.

OUR LIGHT AFFLICTIONS.

By Mrs. N. A. Merrill

BY MRS. N. A. MERRILL.

SOMETIMES the thought arises, If God loves us and is with us, why does he not keep us from trouble, and from severe trials? Why does he not place our feet in pleasant places, and strew our path with roses, that we may be happy all the time? But God does not love to see his children suffer. Trials come for some good. When we have all these pleasures, and our wishes gratified, we begin to lose hold upon God and depend more upon self. Sometimes he has to send us severe trials to bring us where we can look to him, and put our trust more fully in him. By our waywardness, many times, we bring these trials upon ourselves. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth everyone whom he receiveth." "As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent." Then instead of being discouraged when we are afflicted and chastened, we should remember that all things work together for good to them that love God.

Let us glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope—just the essential qualities that we each need to cultivate. Knowing this, that our trials are for our good, let us count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations. "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

that the trials of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire." "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

These scriptures should be a great encouragement to the Christian. If we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with him, yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. It is all for Christ's sake, and his grace is sufficient. "For my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

There is something beyond these trials and afflictions; we should not therefore dwell upon them, but look through them to Christ, who suffered and died for us. "For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Then we must not allow our afflictions to separate us from the love of Christ. May he work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Neither should we look forward and make provisions for sinning, but we should believe that he is able to keep us from falling, remembering that he that hath begun a good work will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ. He is not only the author, but finisher of our faith. God wants us to forget the past, and press forward, "looking unto Jesus," not mourning over our sins that he has forgiven. He forgets (Micah 7: 18, 19), so why should not we? Neither does he upbraid us in our foolishness. I am so thankful for such a Saviour. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."