p. 48 | The Discipline of Life by M. W. Howard

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 26, 1882

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 4.

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The Discipline of Life.

By M. W. Howard

"They also serve, who only stand and wait."—Milton.

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee."—Bible.

"There is a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them as we will."—Shakespeare.

"It is in man to devise his way, but the Lord directeth his steps."—Solomon.

How many sorrowing, sighing ones are there, to whom words like the above, come as balm to a wounded heart!—ones who have not yet learned not to chafe and flutter against the prison bars; and most truly this is a hard lesson to learn. Nevertheless each sorrowing one must learn it for himself, or never taste its sweet consolations; never know by experience, that the bitter tear which will unforbidden start, because it is born of far bitterer tears secretly wept within the smitten heart, can be allayed and the soul calmly repose on Jesus, even amid outward unwonted disturbances.

But when it is once learned, then can we feel "that in all these afflictions, he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them." Then, and not till then, do we truly appreciate that assurance, "that like as one whom his mother comforteth," are they who confide in God, and unto him commit their ways.

But do I hear any say, "Yes I know, but my trials are so peculiar, so trifling, perhaps that I should blush to have my fellow-men know that they were trials." Aye, well, you forget that a miracle was once performed to restore a poor man’s axe, and Jesus himself performed his first miracle, to spare his entertainer from the mortification of an insufficient supply for his guests.

Then think not that the stinging reproof, the sarcastic rejoinder, the scornful disdain, the pathway hedged up on every side, meets no echoing sympathy from "the Captain of our salvation who was made perfect through suffering." Think not that He of whom we are assured that "he can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, having been tempted in all points, like as we are," feels not for us in our little trials.

Ah! no truer words were ever spoken, and they are just as true to-day, as when first uttered by the sweet Psalmist of Israel, "Each heart knoweth its own bitterness." But thanks to our great High Priest, "there is a balm in Gilead, and a physician there." Let us then cast all our care upon him; for he careth for us.

M. W. HOWARD.