Light at the End of the Tunnel

Sometimes it seems like trials take forever to end. Even when you're doing all you can think of, it seems like it grows lengthier and heavier with each passing day. Sometimes it seems so dark you wonder if GOD notices and honestly cares, or whether He regards it with indifference. You wonder if He  really is listening and working for your good. You wonder if there is light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, it's easy to say there is. It's easy to say anything. It's not that easy to always believe it when everything seems to be going so badly.

Then there are those words that have a way of piercing the thick clouds of gloom and letting a ray of light, a ray of hope, in. The first thing that did this for me was 1 Peter 5:10. "But the GOD of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]." Friends, what hope this brings! If you and I let Him, if you and I cooperate with Him the best we can, GOD will eventually bring good out of our sufferings.

In Acts of the Apostles,  chapter 51, page 527, Ellen White writes: "Thus Peter wrote to the believers at a time of peculiar trial to the church. Many had already become partakers of Christ’s sufferings, and soon the church was to undergo a period of terrible persecution. Within a few brief years many of those who had stood as teachers and leaders in the church were to lay down their lives for the gospel. Soon grievous wolves were to enter in, not sparing the flock. But none of these things were to bring discouragement to those whose hopes were centered in Christ. With words of encouragement and good cheer Peter directed the minds of the believers from present trials and future scenes of suffering 'to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.' 'The God of all grace,' he fervently prayed, “who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.'"

While I haven't yet experienced, at least in my own estimation, the sufferings of Christ, I do believe the words could go for any present trial. May we learn to look up, up, up to the blessings that await us after this is all over.

The second thing that encouraged me was a passage in the book Steps to Christ, on page 96: "The assurance is broad and unlimited, and He is faithful who has promised. When we do not receive the very things we asked for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers." What an encouragement! It goes on to say, "We are so erring and short-sighted that we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us, and our heavenly Father in love answers our prayers by giving us that which will be for our highest good—that which we ourselves would desire if with vision divinely enlightened we could see all things as they really are. When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most. But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire, is presumption. God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, 'Ask, and it shall be given you.'"

I know that what I ask for is something He would like to give us all, but my heavenly Father is too wise to err. Perhaps now wouldn't be the best time for us to receive it, no matter how much we want it. Perhaps there are things we need to learn first. Whatever the case, I am once again reminded that He does care, that He does answer prayer, and that He will one day end these lessons of suffering. May we learn them well.

Yes, I'm reminded that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Blessings,
Jean