| In His Steps |
Chapter 12 |
Page 6 |
Preparation for Trial
Another preparation for trial is a close walk with God. Nothing adds more to the bitterness of any grief than the memory of a careless or a sinful life; while nothing alleviates the pain of affliction so much as the remembrance of faithfulness in duty and the consciousness of divine approval. If our habitual daily life has been near to God, we have no trouble in find God when in some sore stress we greatly need him; but if we have been living far from God in the bright day, neglecting our devotions and our duties, it takes a long time, when trial comes, to get into such close fellowship with God that we can receive the tender personal comforts which he imparts to those who in intimate friendship lean upon his breast.
Our habitual treatment of our friends in the season of unbroken fellowship has very much to do with the comfort we shall get when we are called to mourn the loss of these friends. If we have been unkind, selfish, thoughtless, or harsh; if we have failed in any duty to them; if we have caused them pain or trouble; if we have wronged or injured them in any way, – no fullness and richness of divine comfort will altogether take away the pang from our heart when we stand by the cold clay and it is too late to ask or to receive forgiveness. But if we have been faithful and true to our friends in all ways; if we have been thoughtful and kind; if we have let our love flow out in fond expression and unselfish ministry, – when they leave us our sorrow at the loss may be no less sore, but it will have no bitterness in it. Loyal and tender friendship is a preparation for sorrow; its memory is a sweetener of bereavement.
To all of us sorrow will come in some form or other. But we may so lay up in store the resources of comfort that in whatever way it may come, in whatever measure or however suddenly, we shall not be crushed by it, but shall welcome it as God’s angel and receive the message our Father sends to us in it and the benediction it brings to us from heaven.
“Count each affliction, whether light or grave,
God’s messenger sent down to thee.
Do thou
With courtesy receive him; rise and bow,
And ere his shadow cross thy threshold, crave
Permission first his heavenly feet to lave.”
In God’s plan for each life one step is always designed to prepare for the next. One day’s faithfulness lifts up to the next day’s duty and fits for the next day’s trial. Faithfulness – simple faithfulness – each hour, each moment, is all that is necessary to prepare for any future. Then, at the end, such a life will stand approved and complete, ready for the crowning, at the feet of Him who is Redeemer, Lord, Pattern, Helper, and Friend.
William Holman Hunt(1827-1910)
Hunt was born in Cheapside. London. He was the eldest son of William Hunt a warehouse manager, and his wife Sarah, nee Holman. Throughout his life he was a devout Christian and according to many reports was excessively serious and lacked a sense of humour.
At the age of 38 in December of 1865 he married Fanny Waugh. Fanny who died a year later after giving birth to their son Cyril. Eight years later in November 1873 he married Edith Waugh, his first wife’ younger sister, at Neuf Chatel as it was illegal in England at the time.
Hunt studied at the British Royal Academy School stating in 1844 and was soon disenchanted with the current British art. This lead to him becoming a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
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