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The Retirement Years
I am sorry, my sister, that you are in affliction and sorrow. But
Jesus, the precious Saviour, lives. He lives for you. He wants you
to be comforted in His love. Do not worry; trust in the Lord.... Do
not complain. Do not mourn and weep. Do not look on the dark side.
Let the peace of God reign in your soul. Then you will have strength
to bear all your sufferings, and you will rejoice that you have grace
to endure. Praise the Lord; talk of His goodness; tell of His power.
Sweeten the atmosphere which surrounds your soul.
Do not dishonor God by words of repining, but praise Him with
heart and soul and voice. Look on the bright side of everything. Do not
bring a cloud or shadow into your home. Praise Him who is the light
of your countenance and your God. Do this, and see how smoothly
everything will go.—
Selected Messages 2:266, 267
.
Ellen White in Her Hour of Bereavement
In my recent bereavement, I have had a near view of eternity. I
have, as it were, been brought before the great white throne, and have
seen my life as it will there appear. I can find nothing of which to
boast, no merit that I can plead. “Unworthy, unworthy of the least of
Thy favors, O my God,” is my cry. My only hope is in a crucified and
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risen Saviour. I claim the merits of the blood of Christ. Jesus will save
to the uttermost all who put their trust in Him.
It is sometimes hard for me to preserve a cheerful countenance
when my heart is rent with anguish. But I would not permit my
sorrow to cast a gloom upon all around me. Seasons of affliction
and bereavement are often rendered more sorrowful and distressing
than they should be, because it is customary to give ourselves up to
mourning without restraint. By the help of Jesus, I determined to shun
this evil; but my resolution has been severely tested.
My husband’s death was a heavy blow to me, more keenly felt
because so sudden. As I saw the seal of death upon his countenance,
my feelings were almost insupportable. I longed to cry out in my
anguish. But I knew that this could not save the life of my loved one,
and I felt that it would be unchristian to give myself up to sorrow. I
sought help and comfort from above, and the promises of God were
verified to me. The Lord’s hand sustained me. It is a sin to indulge,