Letters: Mrs. Grant His Sister-in-Law, on the Death of Her Husband, the Rev. Wm. Grant of Cavers (1)
In times of affliction, look to the Lord who alone can comfort the heart and reveal His design for our lives.
Andrew Bonar offers heartfelt comfort to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Grant, in her time of grief following the death of her husband, the Rev. Wm. Grant. He acknowledges the deep bitterness of her heart and emphasizes that true comfort can only come from the Lord. Bonar encourages her to view her suffering as a means to draw closer to Jesus, reminding her that even in sorrow, there is a purpose that leads to spiritual growth and reliance on Christ's righteousness. He urges her to seek solace in the blood and obedience of Jesus, who understands her pain and offers consolation.
Text
ON THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, THE REV. WM. GRANT OF CAVERS. COLLACE, Oct. 18th, 1853. MY DEAR JEANIE, -- 'The heart knoweth its own bitterness.' You have felt this and have experienced how powerless are words, however well-meant and kind, to relieve such affliction as yours. It is only the Lord that can so speak to the heart as to comfort. Do you know (look at the margin) that such expressions as 'Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem' are 'speak to the heart of Jerusalem,' and who can do this but the Lord?
One thing you will feel tempted to--not perhaps to think hard thoughts of the Lord, but to think so often of the trial as to overlook in part the design of it as to your personal feelings toward Jesus as a Saviour. When the Lord makes your portion of earth assume so wintry an aspect, it is in order to make you see the eternal summer sunshine in the heavenly places in Christ. Have you felt it profitable to go, not as a sorrowful one, not as one needing the Widow's Judge, but as a sinful one, a corrupt one, one whom God needs to try, one whose sin exposes her to chastisement, to go thus to the blood and righteousness of Jesus?
Clothe yourself in His obedience, rest yourself on His satisfying death. There was no fault, no defect, in His obedience under suffering. That, then, is your covering, imputed to you, and under that robe look up to Him and ask Him to visit you with the consolations He felt as man when His reputed father Joseph died, when His much-loved friend the Baptist was removed--when He thought on bereaved Martha and Mary.--Believe me, dear Jeanie, your affectionate brother, ANDREW A. BONAR.
Sermon Outline
- The Lord's Comfort in Affliction
- The Design of Affliction
- The Profit of Affliction
- To make us see our sin and need for chastisement
- To make us see the sufficiency of Jesus' obedience and death
Key Quotes
“The heart knoweth its own bitterness.” — Andrew Bonar
“Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem” — Andrew Bonar
“Look up to Him and ask Him to visit you with the consolations He felt as man” — Andrew Bonar
Application Points
- Look to the Lord in your affliction, rather than focusing on your trial.
- See your sin and need for chastisement as a result of your affliction.
- Rest in the sufficiency of Jesus' obedience and death for your salvation.