E. J. Waggoner
ARE you in trouble? Have you been sorely afflicted?
Of course you say, Yes; for “man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).
But there is a still more important question. It is, “Are you comforted in your affliction?" "Do you have peace in the midst of your trouble?”
You say no? Why are you not? Here is the word of truth: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3, 4).
Christ also has said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). If you say that you have no comfort and peace, you deny the word of God, making Him a liar; or else you have thrown away the gift of God. You didn’t know it before? Well, it is not too late now; know it now, and ever remember it, that comfort is always present wherever there is trouble. God speaks peace to you. He has sent the Comforter, and you have been comforted, for He who cannot lie says so. Then wait in the fear of the Lord, and “in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,” recognizing the gift of God.
What a blessed; glorious Gospel, that makes our very trouble a means of conveying comfort to us! “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5).
—The Present Truth 17, 11 (March 14, 1901), p. 176.