p. 318 | Faith for Trials Yet to Come

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 13, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 20

Faith for Trials Yet to Come

—How great seems the weight of difficulties that are to be met; and how insignificant appears the whole sum of them when they have been overcome, and have become nothing more than a memory! When we are perplexed, and give way to anxiety and worriment concerning troublesome questions as yet unsolved, we are ready to say, as the quaint old prayer says of the weight of our sins, “The burden of them is intolerable.” But when sober thought has succeeded worry and irresolution, and prayer and courage have conquered the impending difficulties, we no longer magnify trifling circumstances until they seem unsurmountable, but clearly see them in their real significance. It is then that we feel and express real gratitude to God for his aid. But are not faith and courage beforehand quite as much a duty as thankfulness and security afterward? Almost anybody can be grateful,—even animals can feel a keen sense of enjoyment when comforts have been received; but to trust God for aid in troubles and trials yet to come is not so easy. And yet confidence for the future is a far better test of faith than the most sincere thankfulness for the past. If you are not as willing to believe that which will be, as to perceive that which has been, then, in effect, you regard God as a ruler of yesterday, but not of to-morrow.—S. S. Times.