Your ShelfYour Projects

The Joy of Overcoming Difficulties

13%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 25, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 30.

Read the full edition

The Joy of Overcoming Difficulties

By W. W. Eastman

BELOW we give extracts from two letters received from colporteurs, which serve to illustrate how one will fail under difficulties and another overcome them in the same territory.
The first is from a brother who returns his prospectus and quits the work because of conditions to him insurmountable. He says: "There is positively nothing doing here. The poorer classes have no money nor work. There are a great many people who insult you or order you out, and the richer class will not even look at the book nor talk to you at all, only say they have a library full of good books, and don't want any more, then turn around and shut the door in your face. This town certainly needs the work, but it will take a bolder and more experienced talker than I to do it.
"If I had any hopes that I could better this work later, I would gladly continue, but we as Adventists know these hard times will not get better, as many others expect, and I am not experienced enough to do a thing with this territory."
The following extract is from another colporteur in the same State, who, after mentioning difficulties that have hindered him in his work, but have been overcome at last, says: "I do not know how to tell you about the blessing of God this week. I have never had such a week before in my canvassing experience, but the Lord says, 'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.' Ps. 37: 3.
"I do praise his holy name. I am glad that I can receive direct answers to prayer from God. This shows that he is ever ready to help his servants in the work, for this is his work. I am glad to be one among those who are scattering the literature of the third angel's message. Yours in Christ."
We are reminded of the little poem:— "The inside of every cloud is bright and shining; I therefore turn my clouds about, And always wear them inside out, To show the lining."
Could the first brother have only looked at the bright side and continued his work, no doubt conditions would have changed, and he would have had the joy that results from overcoming difficulties. W. W. EASTMAN.