p. 130 | Our Hope by Esther P. Warren

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1863

Our Hope.

By Esther P. Warren

WHAT a blessed hope is ours. 'Tis not a hope of ease, or comfort, or long life in this unfriendly world; but of a boundless eternal life in the bright world to come. And although the billows of life may roll darkly at times, yet this hope bears us up above the waves. We shall have trials but we need them to purify us. We shall have temptations but with every temptation, God will make a way for our escape. We shall have to suffer persecutions, but while Jesus is our friend we will rest secure; for he has promised never to leave nor forsake us. His ear is not heavy that he cannot hear, neither is his arm shortened that it cannot save. He will hear and answer those who pray in faith and will send the help they need. We must struggle hard if we would obtain the victory. "The road may be rough, but it cannot be long." I do not ask for an easy path, neither would I shrink from the suffering part of religion, for we shall all have it, if we go through. I cannot, nor would I, ask to sail to heaven on flowery beds of ease. It will be through great suffering and tribulation that we shall enter our Father's home. But O when we are safely there, we shall rejoice that we were made partakers of Christ's sufferings here, that we may share the glory with him in his Father's kingdom. In the strength of Him who died to save such unworthy creatures as we are, I am determined to go through and dwell forever where there is,

"No hidden grief, No wild and cheerless visions of despair, No vain petitions for relief, No tearful eyes, no broken hearts are there."

ESTHER P. WARREN.

Medford, Minn.