Where are the Stars?

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 31, 1863

Where are the Stars?

I WAS walking out one evening, just after sunset, with a child a few years old by my side, who asked me, "Where are the stars? I don't see any." I said to her, "Wait till it is a little darker, and then you will see them." We continued our walk, she clinging fast to my hand. The shades of evening deepened; one by one the stars appeared, and soon, in the darkness of the night the whole sky was covered with their light and beauty.

As we walked on, I fell a musing, and when we returned, the musing still went on as I repeated to my heart, "Wait till it is a little darker, and the light will come." Often have we heard that "Man's extremity is God's opportunity;" that "when he has humbled us he will exalt us;" that "he will cause light to rise out of obscurity;" and that "the darkest time is just before day." And many a poor, weary, troubled soul has found in his own experience, that from the verge of despair the blessedness of hope has sprung. When all other help had failed him, God had been his help and Saviour. But we are very slow to get the comfort of these promises and proverbs in advance. After the stars have come out bright, and the sky is radiant with glory, we admire it, and wonder at our want of faith before. Like the child who did not know where the stars were when she could not see them, we do not know where light, and peace, and joy are to come from when we are in trouble. Well, we must wait till it is a little darker. We have not had trial enough yet. We must fret and worry about the future; we must see the country, and our business, and our property going to ruin; we must be perplexed and distressed on every side, and cast down, and nearly destroyed; perhaps we must actually suffer by hunger, and nakedness, and the sword; but when it is a little darker the stars will appear. The day star will arise on our hearts. The Lord will provide. Our food and raiment will come. Zion will arise and shine. And the days of our mourning will be ended.—San Francisco Pacific.