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Pity

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 9, 1865

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 25, No. 23.

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Pity.

By Susan McIntosh

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." Ps. ciii, 13.
How consoling is this promise to those who are striving to love and serve God! How cheering to know that although they may be surrounded by temptations, without any earthly friend to sympathize with them, there is One who ever looks in pity and compassion upon them, and imparts unto them strength to endure.
In the same manner does our kind heavenly Father deal with us, as an earthly parent deals with his child. He does not remove temptations out of our way, so that we shall have nothing to contend against; but he imparts to us grace and strength to overcome the obstacles that come in our way, for in every temptation he has promised to make a way of escape.
A child has perhaps done wrong. He may have disobeyed his father's command, and thereby incurred his displeasure. But on reflection, he feels sorry for his disobedience, and goes to his father, confesses his fault, and asks his forgiveness. Will the father answer him harshly, and refuse his request? Oh, no! He pities his erring child, even though he disobeyed his command a short time previous; and when he sees he is truly sorry for what he has done, he freely forgives him, and takes him back to his love and confidence once more.
How consoling, then, should be this promise of the Lord to all the tempted and tried; to think that he condescends to notice the trials that daily beset our pathway, and ever looks with pity and compassion upon us. Should not this lead us to trust him more fully day by day?
Susan McIntosh.
Arlington, Wis.