Trial will come to you. Thus the Lord polishes the roughness from your character. Do not murmur. You make the trial harder by repining. Honor God by cheerful submission. Patiently endure the pressure. Even though a wrong is done you, keep the love of God in the heart. “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” {YI June 26, 1902, par. 8}
“Beware of desperate steps; the darkest day,
Wait but tomorrow, will have passed away.” {YI June 26, 1902, par. 9}
“In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Christ knows the strength of your temptations and the strength of your power to resist. His hand is always stretched out in pitying tenderness to every suffering child. To the tempted, discouraged one he says, Child for whom I suffered and died, can not you trust me? “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” {YI June 26, 1902, par. 10}
“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass…. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” He will be to you as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. He says, “Come unto me, … and I will give you rest,”—rest that the world can neither give nor take away. Come unto me, and your heart will be filled with the peace that passes all understanding. {YI June 26, 1902, par. 11}
Words can not describe the peace and joy possessed by him who takes God at his word. Trials do not disturb him slights do not vex him. Self is crucified. Day by day his duties may become more taxing, his temptations stronger, his trials more severe; but he does not falter; for he receives strength equal to his need. {YI June 26, 1902, par. 12}
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27. {OHC 288.1}
It is too true that the great mass who possess ability and talent do not choose to travel the Christian road. Are their talent and ability too precious to devote to the Giver, the Lord of heaven and earth? … {OHC 288.2}
Many would be followers of Christ if He would come down from the cross and appear to them in such a manner as they desire. If He would come with riches and pleasure, many would receive Him gladly and would be in haste to crown Him Lord of all. If He would only lay aside His humiliation and sufferings and cry, “If any man will come after Me, let him please himself and enjoy the world and he shall be My disciple,” multitudes would believe on Him. {OHC 288.3}
But the blessed Jesus will come to us in no other character than the meek and lowly Crucified One. We must partake of His self-denial and suffering here if we would take the crown hereafter…. {OHC 288.4}
The Word of God has not widened the narrow way, and if the multitude have found a path where they can wear a form of godliness and not bear the cross or suffer tribulation, they have found a way where our Saviour did not walk and they follow another example than that which Christ set before us. Is it not enough that Jesus left the felicity and glory of heaven, endured a life of poverty and deep affliction, and died a cruel, shameful death to provide for us the joys of holiness and heaven? And can it be that we, the worthless objects of so great a condescension and love, will seek after a better portion in this life than was given to our Redeemer? 16 {OHC 288.5}
How easy would be the way to heaven if there was no self-denial or cross! How worldlings would rush in the way, and hypocrites would travel in it without number! Thank God for the cross, the self-denial. The ignominy and shame our Saviour endured for us is none too humiliating for those saved by the purchase of His blood. Heaven will indeed be cheap enough.17 {OHC 288.6}