Psalms 42:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him
for the help of his countenance."
"Be joyful in God. Christ is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Look toward the light. Accustom yourselves to speak the praise of God. Make others happy. This is your first work. It will strengthen the best traits of character. Throw the windows of the soul wide open heavenward, and let the sunshine of Christ’s righteousness in. Morning, noon, and night your hearts may be filled with the bright rays of heaven’s light."
To each one of us has been given the inestimable privilege of being a child of God. Why, then, should we be unhappy? We are all sinful, but we have a Saviour who can take away our sins; for in him is no sin. We all have many difficulties to meet, many perplexing problems to solve. But we have an all-powerful Helper, who will listen to our requests as willingly and gladly as he listened to the requests of those who, when he was on this earth in person, came to him for help. I ask you not to take the ordering of your life out of his hands. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 1}
When discouragement presses heavily upon you, read the following scriptures: {RH April 7, 1904, par. 2}
“My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?... Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 3}
“Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water-spouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? {RH April 7, 1904, par. 4}
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul; and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 5}
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 6}
“For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 7}
Do you make mistakes? Do not let this discourage you. The Lord may permit you to make small mistakes in order to save you from making larger mistakes. Go to Jesus, and ask him to forgive you, and then believe that he does. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 8}
When unkind, discouraging words are spoken to you, do not retaliate. Do not reply unless you can return a pleasant answer. Say to yourself, “I will not disappoint my Saviour. The Christian woman is a gentlewoman. On her lips is ever the law of kindness. She utters no hasty words. To speak gentle words when you are irritated will bring sunshine into your hearts, and make your path more smooth. A schoolgirl, when asked for a definition of meekness, said. “Meek people are those who give soft answers to rough questions.” Christ says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” They will be fit subjects for the kingdom of heaven; for they are willing to be taught. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 9}
Do not treat life as a romance, but as a reality. Perform your smallest duty in the fear and love of God, with faithfulness and cheerfulness. God declares, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 10}
Study the life that Christ lived while on this earth. He did not neglect the smallest, simplest duty. Perfection marked all that he did. Look to him for help, and you will be enabled to perform your daily duties with the grace and dignity of one who is seeking for the crown of immortal life. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 11}
We dwell much on the grandeur of Christ’s life. We speak of the great things that he accomplished, of the miracles he wrought, of how he spoke peace to the tempestuous waters, restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, and raised the dead to life. But his attention to small things is even higher proof of his greatness. Listen to him speaking to Martha, as she comes to him with the request that he bid her sister help her with the serving. He tells her not to allow the cares of the household to disturb the peace of her soul. “Martha, Martha,” he says, “thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 12}
Listen to the words that he spoke as the weary mothers brought their children to him to be blessed. The disciples, unwilling that their Master should be disturbed, were sending the women away. But Christ said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” And taking them in his arms, he blessed them. Could the future of these children be opened before us, we could see the mothers recalling to the minds of the children the scene of that day, and repeating the loving words of the Saviour. We should see, too, how often, in after years, the memory of those words kept the children from straying from the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 13}
Think of the words that Christ spoke to the one woman in Samaria. He was sitting by Jacob’s well, and the woman came to draw water. Christ asked a favor of her. “Give me to drink,” he said. He wanted a cool draft, and he wished, also, to open the way whereby he might give her the water of life. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 14}
“How is it,” said the woman, “that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?” Jesus answered, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water....Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 15}
How much interest Christ manifested in this one woman! How earnest and eloquent were his words! When the woman heard them, she left her waterpot, and went into the city, saying to those she met, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” We read that many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him. And who can estimate the influence that these words have exerted for the saving of souls in the years that have passed since then! {RH April 7, 1904, par. 16}
My dear sisters, this same Jesus is your Saviour. Have faith in him. Do not distrust him. He is a present help in every time of need. Do not take your troubles to human beings. Take them to the Lord. You may think that others ought to sympathize with you in your trials; but you will sometimes be disappointed. Jesus never disappoints the one who comes to him for help. He is saying to you today, “Come unto me, ... and I will give you rest.” He will give you rest in him. No one who comes to him goes away unhelped. Take your burdens to the divine burden-bearer, and leave them with him, knowing that he will carry them for you. He is the Christ, the One who bears the sins of the world. He will take you under his watchcare; for he loves you. He will accept you, and set you apart for his service. By the indwelling of his Spirit, he will make you more than conquerors. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 17}
Act your part in helping yourselves, as all must do who would be blessed. Do not dwell upon the hardship of the Christian life. Do not talk of your trials. If you do, you will become more and more inclined to complain. God asks you to speak no unkind words of the Saviour. Instead of bemoaning your weakness, and feeling that you are hardly used, talk of the goodness and mercy of the Lord. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 18}
Do not utter one despondent word: for such words please Satan. Talk of Christ’s goodness and tell of his power. Words of hope and trust and courage are as easily spoken as words of complaint. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” {RH April 7, 1904, par. 19}
When the enemy tells you that the Lord has forsaken you, tell him that you know he has not; for he declares, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Dismiss the enemy. Tell him you will not dishonor the Lord by doubting his love. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 20}
Christ asks us to believe in him as one who is able to keep us from falling. There is no limit to the help that the Saviour is willing to bestow on us. He asks us to bring into our lives the grace that will keep us from sin. From the cross of Calvary there comes to us liberty, hope, and strength. Do not dishonor your Redeemer by doubting his power. Trust him all the time. Take hold of the riches of his grace, saying, “I will believe, I do believe that Jesus died for me.” The way before you may seem dark, but Jesus can make it light. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 21}
Be joyful in God. Christ is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Look toward the light. Accustom yourselves to speak the praise of God. Make others happy. This is your first work. It will strengthen the best traits of character. Throw the windows of the soul wide open heavenward, and let the sunshine of Christ’s righteousness in. Morning, noon, and night your hearts may be filled with the bright rays of heaven’s light. {RH April 7, 1904, par. 22}