Borrowing Trouble by E. S. W.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 5, 1862

Borrowing Trouble.

By E. S. W.

I RECOLLECT reading a fable of the pendulum of a clock, that had always performed its office well until it commenced to "borrow trouble," began thinking over the number of vibrations it would have to make in an hour, then in a day, and finally in a year. When the whole was summed up it was astonished, and without further reflection said within itself, "I shall never be able to accomplish so great a task," and immediately stopped. Upon being interrogated as to the reason of its standing still, it replied, "I have been counting up the number of strokes I shall have to make in a year, and find it so many millions that I know I shall never be able to accomplish the task." The matter was explained to the pendulum, and it was shown that notwithstanding it would have a large number of vibrations to make in a year, it would have but one to make in a second; and that for the many millions of strokes it would have to make, it would have just as many seconds to make them in. This explanation was satisfactory to the pendulum, and it went on ticking as before.

Although this is but a fable, we may learn a lesson of instruction from it. It may serve to illustrate the course of many professors of Christianity. All goes well until they commence to "borrow trouble." They will let their imaginations run, and conjure up real or imaginary difficulties which are likely to occur. They picture to themselves lions in the way. They brood over trials to come, and finally sum them all up and bring them before the mind as a whole, and then think that they never can endure them; and then they become discouraged, and backslide at least, if they do not entirely fall away. Whereas if they would but consider that although they will have many trials to endure, and much to overcome, many strait places to pass through, and many difficulties to surmount on their journey to the better country, they will not have all these to encounter at once, but in accordance with the promises of God, grace will be given. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." "Where sin abounds grace will much more abound;" and to those who are in trial and affliction, he says, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

E. S. W.