Here and here alone.
Is given thee to suffer for God’s sake
In the other world we shall more perfectly
Serve him and love him, praise him, work for him,
Grow near and nearer him with all delight;
But then we shall not any more be called
To suffer, which is our appointment here.
Canst thou not suffer, then, one hour, or two?
Life is not all activity, work, service. Sometimes our first and highest duty is to rest. We are not to be forever pressing on, although the way is long and the sun is sinking toward the west. Sometimes we must stop and lie down awhile. We do not care to lie down. We would rather keep on our way. We are loath to tarry. We think we would be losing time if we turned aside into the shade of a great tree and rested an hour. It seems to us that every minute that is not filled with activities is a minute wasted. We have not learned that we may serve by standing and waiting, and that at times we make greater advances by lying down than we could have done by pressing on. So we too often chafe when we are not permitted to hasten forward.
Then the Shepherd makes us lie down. It ought to be quite reason enough to silence all demurring and all question, and to make us altogether acquiescent, that it is our Good Shepherd who bids us lie down to rest awhile. He knows what is best. He never wishes us to waste time or to be loiterers. We may trust His goodness and wisdom; whatever he would have us do. If rushing on were our duty for the hour, He would not call us to rest.
Page 1