FINAL STRENGTH IN SORROW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6936, 9 February 1884, Page 4 (Supplement)

FINAL STRENGTH IN SORROW.

Many Christians, called to meotunexpectcd and Bore bereavements, do not consciously realise that sustaining grace which God has pledged to the believer. At the first, indeed, the Divine strength may seem sufficient. But afterward — when secretly agitated by questionings as to whether the sorrow might not have have been averted— the soul, like the magnetic needle exposed to disturbing influences, is the subject of temporary vibrations of feeling. Mary and Martha eaid in their grief, " Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died." The human heart is over prone to say, "If circumstances, plans, remedies, had only been different tho sad blow might have been prevented." And yet, just as it was with the weeping sisters, Jesus, all the weary hours we are indulging such questionings, sympathises most tenderly with uf, even to tears. Fiually, when the moment has arrived in which we are capable of appreciating His blessed word, He Bays, "lam glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the* intent ye may believe." "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God."

Doubtless, when Mary and Martha came to this moment of spiritual recaptivsty, the "intent" of the Master filled their soals with blessed peace. They were ushered tit once into a new realm ; a light broke upon then- sadness. It is reasonable to suppose that their faith henceforth enabled them to exolaim. " Yea, Lord ; we believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." This was the hour of strength; this their "afterward" that yielded for them the "peaceable fruits of righteousness." We recently met a Christian mother in tears. The sad recital of her grief would have touched the stoutest heart. Daring the first few days of that trying ordeal supernatural strength had been consciously given, and was sufficient. But, as is so often the case, and without any fault of her own, despondency came upon her through questioning. All the incidents of that unspeakable sorrow borrowed for the time a sombre drapery. "If only," was the monrnful undertone of her subdued and chastened spirit. The lamentation was not the denial of her Lord; rather, it contained the human call for His pity and help. It was, rightly interpreted, an acknowledgment of her personal weakness and liability to err in judgment. In it was breathed the unconscious confession of having possibly offended infinite love, and forfeited the providential watch-care of God in behalf of her beloved child. Like Mary of old, she adopted these plaintive words, "If only," while falling down at the Master's feet. Had Mary cherished rebellion in her heart against God she would not have " come where Jesus was," but would have turned from Him. Thus it was with our bereaved friend. The thought of leaving Jesus was not entertained for one moment. This was only the human unsteadiness of her soul, borne down with the burden of sorrow; a sinless wavering within that commanded the pity of Jesus ; a trembling of the flesh, suffering the inevitable) agony of earthly separation. Jesus knows it all. He stands near and waits. He, unlike some who would hastily chide the suffering with impatient couneel, gives expression to truest sympathy. He " knoweth our frame." Even when the rude blasts are at their utmost fierceness, He asks us only to pillow our heads upon His bosom of love. He knows full well that if we will do this in patience and holy trnst tho hour will not be distant when final strength will be consciously experienced, and that which is at the present " grievous" will resnlt in the highest fulfilment of perfected discipline.

Wait, therefore, 0 suffering one I Know this, that whatever is heat, that will our Lord do. Immediate conscious revelation of Himself may not be His way. Time is often a necessary element in the completion of the purposss of love. Bβ patient awhile. The dross of self may not be fully removed without that painful process,, which seems to preclude the possibility of * present realisation of the Refiner. Be it eo. The process will have an end. Tho day will speedily daWn ; the clouds will scatter ; the face of our Lord will beam forth in approving smiles, not more approving than during the previous night of our despondency, but more manifest to us, because that which obstructed the view o£ Himself in us has been removed. Here is final strength for every soul; here is the perfect alleviation of human sorrow, ,ao far as is consistent with our earthly probation.