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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 7, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 32.

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Editorial

By Editor

Rejoicing in Trial

THE Scriptures of Truth assure us that all things work together for good to them that love God. This is so because to the believing, trusting soul God, in his infinite wisdom and power, will shape every experience for good. Joy and sorrow, light and darkness, pain and pleasure, success and failure, all will be overruled to work out the divine purpose in the life. How comforting is this assurance! Trusting him, we may know that every experience which he permits to come has its uses in the divine plan.
How many today might testify that this has proved true in their experience! Our lives have been filled with varied experiences. There are none who have not known sorrow, disappointment, and reverses in some form and in some measure. As we study our lives in the light of God's leading providence, we can see how these trying experiences have been sanctified of him for the teaching of some needed lesson.
Another has said that the life that has never known sorrow has not come to fully know God, and this we believe is true. Sorrow has its uses. God "doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men," but in his wise purpose affliction is permitted, and the lessons learned in the affliction he designs shall serve a second use in that they shall be passed on by his servants to others suffering in a similar way:—
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Cor. 1:3, 4.
It is for us to seek by every laudable means in our power to better our condition, to avert calamity, to avoid pain and discomfort; but having done all we can do, let us believe that the great, loving Father above will overrule the unkind experiences we cannot prevent, for our highest good. Let us not chafe nor fret, let us not murmur nor complain. Let us seek to harmonize with our environment, keeping heaven's peace in our hearts. In the world to come, if not now, we shall be enabled to thank God from the depths of our hearts for the dark chapters in our experience, realizing that they have been sanctified for the working out of his plan in our lives.