Mind, Character, and Personality Vol. 2 - Second Advent Revival

down. "Let him take hold of My strength," says the Mighty One, "that he may make
peace with Me; and he shall make
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peace with Me" (Isaiah 27:5). Those who surrender their lives to His guidance and to
His service will never be placed in a position for which He has not made provision.
Whatever our situation, if we are doers of His word, we have a Guide to direct our way;
whatever our perplexity, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement,
or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend.-- MH 248, 249 (1905). {2MCP 458.4}
Anticipating Trouble Doubles Burdens.--We are in a world of suffering. Difficulty,
trial, and sorrow await us all along the way to the heavenly home. But there are many
who make life's burdens doubly heavy by continually anticipating trouble. If they meet
with adversity or disappointment, they think that everything is going to ruin, that theirs is
the hardest lot of all, that they are surely coming to want. Thus they bring wretchedness
upon themselves and cast a shadow upon all around them. Life itself becomes a
burden to them. {2MCP 459.1}
But it need not be thus. It will cost a determined effort to change the current of their
thought. But the change can be made. Their happiness, both for this life and for the life
to come, depends upon their fixing their minds upon cheerful things. Let them look
away from the dark picture, which is imaginary, to the benefits which God has strewn in
their pathway, and beyond these to the unseen and eternal.--MH 247, 248 (1905).
{2MCP 459.2}
Casting a Shadow.--It is not wise to gather together all the unpleasant recollections
of a past life--its iniquities and disappointments--to talk over them and mourn over them
until we are overwhelmed with discouragement. A discouraged soul is filled with
darkness, shutting out the light of God from his own soul and casting a shadow upon
the pathway of others.--SC 117 (1892). {2MCP 459.3}
Talk of Blessings, Less of Trials.--The Lord's merciful kindness is great toward us.
He will never leave nor
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forsake those who trust in Him. If we would think and talk less of our trials and more of
the mercy and goodness of God, we would find ourselves raised above much of our
gloom and perplexity. My brethren and sisters, you who feel that you are entering upon
a dark path, and like the captives in Babylon must hang your harps upon the willows, let
us make trial of cheerful song. {2MCP 459.4}
You may say, How can I sing, with this dark prospect before me, with this burden of
sorrow and bereavement upon my soul? But have earthly sorrows deprived us of the
all-powerful Friend we have in Jesus? Should not the marvelous love of God in the gift
of His dear Son be a theme of continual rejoicing? When we bring our petitions to the