41 The Painful and Pleasant

The Painful and Pleasant

"Make us glad according to the days wherein you have afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil." Psalms 90:15

Churches, as well as individuals — have their times of affliction and trial. It was so with the Church in the wilderness in the days of Moses. It is so with the church, and with individual churches now. For the church in the desert Moses prayed, "Make us glad according to the days wherein you have afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil." This prayer may perhaps suit us, let us consider it as containing A Glance at a Painful Past. "YOU have afflicted us." God is said to do — what he permits to be done. Men and things, are but God’s instruments, by which he accomplishes his purposes, and fulfils the predictions of his word. The CHURCH is at times afflicted with the lack of success. She seems to labor in vain. She sows much — but reaps little. Her converts are few, her fruit is small and scant. The church is at times afflicted with declension — the zealous become cold, the active become idle, the spiritual become carnal — and this is an affliction. The church is at times afflicted with alienation of affection — the love of the pastor cools toward his people, and the love of the people toward each other. Jealousy, surmises, and evil speaking abound, so that instead of cleaving to each other in love — there is coldness, distance, and lack of love, and this is a sore affliction. The church is at times afflicted with bereavements — the Lord calls home the young and active, the energetic and useful, the serious and prudent. The graveyard fills, and the church is thinned — this also is an affliction.

"We have seen evil."

There is also the evil of dissension — when difference of opinion, leads to disputes, wranglings, and separations.

There is the evil of barrenness — when the ordinances do not profit, souls do not thrive, and the fire of devotion burns dull and dim.

There is the evil of inactivity, when the talents are wrapped up in a napkin, and church numbers live in self-indulgence, instead of being actively employed for Christ.

There is also the evil of indifference and lukewarmness, when the affairs of the church cease to interest, and the spread of the gospel is neglected and disregarded.

Then there is the evil of pride — the root of a multitude of evils, for only by pride comes contention, division, disorder, and confusion. When pride creeps in — peace, harmony, and success soon depart! Pride in the officers — will alienate the people from them; and pride among the people — will separate chief friends, and introduce a host of mischiefs. In the congregation often there is the evil of indecision, when people halt between two opinions, between the world and the church, between Christ and Belial.

There is the the evil of stifling of convictions, which many, too many do, so that instead of conviction ripening into conversion — it dies out, and the conscience becomes hardened, and the soul twice dead.

There is also the evil of neglect of ordinances, when public worship is only attended to weekly, and then once a week, and then at more lengthened periods.

These are evils which creep into the church and the soul — and may well cause us to pray with fervor and energy: "Make us glad according to the days wherein you have afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil." Here is, A Prayer for a Pleasant Future. "Make us glad." Change the CUP, take from us the cup of affliction — and put into our hands the cup of salvation — we have drank deep and long of the former, and now let us drink and enjoy the latter. Turn our captivity as the streams, and set us free to labor and enjoy our work. Grant us your presence and favor, filling us with joy with your countenance. Make us glad by healing our afflictions, by restoring peace and harmony, and by working in conversion and sanctification. Let there be a proportion between the pleasant and the painful; for days of affliction — give us days of prosperity; and for years of evil — give us years of good. O for a prosperous pleasant future! "Make us glad according to the days wherein you have afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil."

Brethren, our help is in God. He can deliver, restore, and prosper us. Our hope is in the promise. God’s promises contain the seeds of our prosperity. Bright days are predicted, blessed times are before us. Our duty is prayer. The Lord, though he has promised — yet he will be inquired of. He loves to hear us plead, to see us on our knees, and to observe downright earnestness in his cause. Our prospects will brighten. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. The path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day. We may be low now — but he will lift us up; we may be traduced — but he will bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judgment as the noon day. He will work for us so, that men shall say, "Truly there is a reward for the righteous, truly there is a God who judges in the earth!"

O when will the tempest subside,
The storm of affliction be o’er;
The sea shattered bark safe arrive.
Where billows can toss it no more?

I long for that haven of rest,
Where pleasures unfading remain;
Where troubles shall never molest,
Nor Satan e’er harass again!