Patient in Tribulation

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 30, 1865

Patient in Tribulation.

A mother who had for many years loved to work for Christ, was at length borne down with a heavy load of trials. She possessed great courage to labor, but had not learned to suffer.

Her heart now rose in rebellion against God and his dispensations, and she would gladly have torn away the barriers that separated her from her loved plan of working.

She mourned and prayed over this state of mind as being unchristian; but years passed on without any complete victory. At times, she was near triumphing; but oftener she allowed her affliction to hide the smiles of the King she so much loved to serve and please.

During three years of struggle, a daughter, whom she had fondly expected to consecrate to missionary life, became an invalid, and at length was taken so fearfully sick that for a time she was insane. Her wild shouts and mocking laugh were no more shocking, than were her pitiful entreaties for a friend, saddening. Neighbors, brothers and sisters wept; but the mother, weary and sad beyond what tears can express, gently did what hands could do, while her heart sank deeper and deeper in grief.

Where now were all the pleasant hopes of the past? Had not her toilsome, self-denying, prayerful efforts yielded only bitter sorrow?

One afternoon, as these murmuring thoughts were harrowing up her mind, her daughter called her to the bed-side. In the clear, sweet voice of olden times, she said, “Mother, I wish you to sit down in a chair, and sit there till you are willing to suffer all God’s righteous will.”

In wonder the mother seated herself in the chair pointed out, but with a feeling also that the injunction

was one she most needed to obey. She was lifting her heart to God, imploring his aid, when her daughter said, “Come to me, mother, I wish to see how you look.” Closely scanning the mother’s face, she replied, “No, you have not sat there long enough. I wish you to sit there till you are willing to suffer all God’s righteous will.”

The mother obeyed the second time, in tears. They were tears of contrition.

All her rebellion became manifest to herself, and she now felt that her heavenly Father had a right to reign and rule, and that he chastened in love.

Her load of sadness gave place to a heart full of joy and gratitude to God, who sees not as man sees.

Years afterward, the mother, in referring to the above incident, said she now rejoiced that it was her privilege to suffer, as well as to do God’s will. Her face glowed, as she spoke of the sweetness of casting all her care upon Him who careth for us.

How many of us realize the blessedness of being made partakers of Christ’s sufferings? “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”