SUFFERINGS by I. E. Kimball

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 6, 1893

SUFFERINGS.

By I. E. Kimball

BY ELDER I. E. KIMBALL.

ALL are required to drink the cup and be baptized with the baptism of Christ's sufferings. We sometimes question why it is necessary, and possibly the full reason may not appear to us while here. But the suffering somehow works out a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" we ought not therefore to repine or wish to be excused from it.

As Christians, those who suffer in the flesh cease from sin. The flesh lusteth against the spirit. The two are contrary. He who trusts to the flesh trusts not to the spirit. Paul prayed thrice for bodily infirmity to be removed; however, Christ could not grant the request, but promised grace sufficient, telling him his strength was made perfect in weakness. Hence Paul's bodily weakness made more perfect—that is, revealed more perfectly—the strength of the Great Deliverer.

We suffer the loss of all things—friends, relatives, brethren, children, houses, and lands, yea, and our own life also—that we may live in the Spirit, see according to the Spirit, and work in harmony therewith.

But every successive step whereby we get out of the flesh and into the Spirit, brings the cross, suffering, and self-denial. This suffering and giving up part of the religion of Christ is not taken hold upon as it ought to be by Christ's followers. The dark purple cup of Christ's suffering must be drunk if we would partake of his fullness. Paul tells of the afflictions which pressed him out of measure, and how God comforted him in it, that he might be able to comfort others with the comfort wherewith he was comforted of God. So we drink the dregs of the cup of trembling sustained by the Almighty, that we may inspire confidence in those who shrink from it.

Again, were we to gain the victory easily and triumph in the fullness of Christ, we would never be able to sympathize with those who have so terrible a conflict as some have, to get the victory. We might think they ought to get the victory as easily as we, and forget sympathy, tenderness, and earnest solicitude for them, not rendering the help that we might, if we ourselves had been in the balances of despair. Then and only then can we appreciate the awful gravity of the situation, and give that sympathy and help we ought.

Thus everyone must endure a severe, painful struggle in giving up and subduing the flesh. The more perfectly we give up the flesh, the more perfectly is Christ's strength revealed in us.

Finally, tribulations, trials, and temptations are to teach us to take hold upon the eternal Strength. How much strength through God have we to endure? No trial comes but what we are able to bear. As they come a little harder and harder, it should evince to us that God's grace is to be given more freely—equal to every emergency. Thus would God bring us into the fullness of his strength.

Let all who suffer commit the keeping of their souls unto God, as unto a faithful Creator.

Jamaica, Vt.