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Deceitfulness of Riches
243
I saw you struggling with poverty, seeking to support yourself
and your children. Many times you knew not what to do; the future
looked dark and uncertain. In your distress you cried unto the Lord,
and He comforted and helped you, and hopeful rays of light shone
around you. How precious was God to you at such times! how sweet
His comforting love! You felt that you had a precious treasure laid
up in heaven. As you viewed the reward of the afflicted children of
God, what a consolation to feel that you could claim Him as your
Father!
Your case was, in reality, worse than if you had been widowed.
Your heart was agonized by the wicked course pursued by your
husband. But his persecutions, his threats and violence, did not lead
you to trust in your own wisdom, and forget God. Far from this; you
sensibly felt your weakness and that you were incapable of carrying
your burdens, and in your conscious weakness you were relieved
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by bringing your heavy burdens to Jesus, the great Burden Bearer.
How you cherished every ray of light from His presence! and how
strong you often felt in His strength! When a storm of persecution
and cruelty unexpectedly burst upon you, the Lord did not suffer you
to be overwhelmed; but in those times of trial you realized strength,
calmness, and peace, which were a marvel to you.
When railing accusations and taunts more cruel than spears and
arrows have fallen upon you, the influence of the Spirit of God
upon your heart has led you to speak calmly, dispassionately. It
was not in nature to do this. It was the fruit of the Spirit of God.
It was the grace of God which strengthened your faith amid all the
heartsicknesses of hope deferred. Grace fortified you for the warfare
and hardships, and brought you through conqueror. Grace taught
you to pray, to love and trust, notwithstanding your unfavorable
surroundings. As you repeatedly realized that your prayers were
answered in a special manner, you did not feel that it was because of
any merit in yourself, but because of your great need. Your necessity
was God’s opportunity. Your life in those days of trial was to trust
in God. And the manifestations of His special deliverance when in
most trying places were like the oasis in the desert to the faint and
weary traveler.
The Lord did not leave you to perish. He frequently raised
up friends to aid you when you least expected it. Angels of God