Counseling
225
Christ is ever ready to fill. In her repining she sins against God. She
would do well to examine her own heart critically to see if sin is not
lurking in the soul. The heart that thus seeks human sympathy and
accepts forbidden attentions from any one is not pure and faultless
before God.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:598
.
Grief
The minister offers grief counselees a special, significant
hope—Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of heaven. In the home
of the redeemed there will be no tears, no funeral trains, no badges
of mourning. “The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people
that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” One rich tide of
happiness will flow and deepen as eternity rolls on.—
Testimonies for
the Church 9:286
.
[217]
Those not demonstrative in their grief may feel it deeper [
Ellen
White speaks of the death of her son’s wife
]—Poor Willie is indeed
bereaved. He never is demonstrative, therefore he will mourn alone
and feel it deeper. My heart is sore and sad.—EGW’88 678.
Grief can make the strongest despondent [
Ellen White speaks
of the death of her fourth child, three-month-old John Herbert
]—After
we returned from the funeral, my home seemed lonely. I felt reconciled
to the will of God, yet despondency and gloom settled upon me.—
Testimonies for the Church 1:246
.
Christianity brings a hope that rises above despondency in
grief [
Ellen White speaks of the death of her husband
]—I shall give
way to no outbursts of grief, if my heart breaks. I serve God, not
impulsively, but intelligently. I have a Saviour who will be to me a
very present help in time of trouble. I am a Christian. I know in whom
I have believed. He expects from me implicit unwavering submission.
Undue grief is displeasing to God. I take up my appointed cross and
will follow the Lord fully. I will not give myself to abandonment of
grief. I will not yield to a morbid and melancholy state of feeling. I
will not complain or murmur at the providence of God. Jesus is my
Saviour. He lives. He will never leave me nor forsake me.”—
This Day
With God, 302
.