Sympathy at Home
639
love to God and gratitude of heart for all the blessings which your kind
heavenly Father has bestowed upon you. You see only the discomforts
of life. A worldly insanity shuts you in like heavy clouds of thick
darkness. Satan exults over you because you will have misery when
peace and happiness are at your command.
You listen to a discourse; the truth affects you, and the nobler
powers of your mind arouse to control your actions. You see how little
you have sacrificed for God, how closely self has been cherished, and
you are swayed to the right by the influence of the truth; but when
you pass from under this sacred, sanctifying, soothing influence, you
do not possess it in your own heart, and you soon fall into the same
barren, ungenial state of feeling. Work, work, you must work; brain,
bone, and muscle are taxed to the utmost to get means which your
imagination tells you must be obtained, or want and starvation will be
your lot. This is a delusion of Satan, one of his wily snares to lead
you to perdition. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” But you
make for yourself a time of trouble beforehand.
You have not faith and love and confidence in God. If you had,
you would trust in Him. You worry yourself out of the arms of Christ,
fearing that He will not care for you. Health is sacrificed. God is not
glorified in your body and spirit, which are His. There is not a sweet,
cheering home influence to soothe and counteract the evil which is
predominant in your nature. The high, noble powers of your mind are
overpowered by the lower organs; the evil traits of your character are
developed.
[698]
You are selfish, exacting, and overbearing. This ought not to be.
Your salvation depends on your acting from principle—serving God
from principle, not from feeling, not from impulse. God will help you
when you feel your need of help and set about the work with resolution,
trusting in Him with all your heart. You are often discouraged without
sufficient reason. You indulge feelings akin to hatred. Your likes and
dislikes are strong. These you must restrain. Control the tongue. “If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also
to bridle the whole body.” Help has been laid upon One that is mighty.
He will be your strength and support, your front guard and rearward.
What preparation are you making for the better life? It is Satan
who makes you think that all your powers must be exercised to get
along in this world. You are fearing and trembling for the future of