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Sweetness Through Affliction, September 23
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith
we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 1:4
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Those who have borne the greatest sorrows are frequently the ones
who carry the greatest comfort to others, bringing sunshine wherever they
go. Such ones have been chastened and sweetened by their afflictions;
they did not lose confidence in God when trouble assailed them, but clung
closer to His protecting love. Such ones are living proof of the tender care
of God, who makes the darkness as well as the light and chastens us for
our good. Christ is the light of the world; in Him is no darkness. Precious
light! Let us live in that light! Bid adieu to sadness and repining. Rejoice
in the Lord always.
It is selfish to devote our precious time to mourning over disappointed
hopes, indulging in useless grief that clouds the family circle. We should
be cheerful, if only for the benefit of those who depend more or less upon
us for happiness.... It is our duty to make the best of everything, and to
cultivate a habit of looking at the bright side of things. Let the cloud
that shadows us pass over, while we wait patiently till the clear blue sky
again appears and the blessed sunshine is revealed.... Let us all forget self
as much as possible, cultivate cheerfulness, seek to brighten the lives of
others, and we shall then have less desire to complain of our own lot.
The afflicted may take courage, the desponding may hope, for they
have a sympathizing friend in Jesus. All our troubles and griefs we may
pour into His sympathizing ears. When we associate together let it not
be to talk darkness and unbelief, to recount the gloomy chapters in our
life experience. Let us talk of the love of God that has been manifested to
us, that is seen in nature, in the firmament of the heavens, in all the wise
arrangements of Providence. Let us search out the rays of sunshine that
have brightened our pathway, and linger over their memory with grateful
hearts. Let us dwell upon the matchless love of Christ, for in Him we
have a constant theme of rejoicing. In Him is no darkness. He is the Light
of life, the Chief among ten thousand, and the One altogether lovely.
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