Do we trace things only to the hand of God and go no further? He who rightly takes to Himself the title of “The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” comforts those that are in tribulation, not only that they may be comforted themselves, but that they may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith they themselves have been comforted of God.
I trust I may never forget one lesson I learned of God some years ago, which I will just jot down, hoping that it may be used to help and comfort others.
Trace It to His Heart
Many years ago and not long before being called to pass through a very heavy trial and sorrow, I went up to London. While there I went one evening to where I knew a Bible reading was to be held. During the meeting the old brother in whose house the meeting was held made the following remark: “We often speak of tracing things up to the Lord’s hand, but do we give His heart credit for moving His hand?” I was much struck by the remark at the time, little knowing what was before me. My mind reverted to it occasionally, and I saw that the hand was but the servant of the heart, even in ordinary things. For instance, if a thief steals anything, the heart has first coveted it, and the hand is merely the agent that appropriates what the heart longs for.
I returned to my home and about six weeks later one very, very dear to me passed away rather suddenly. In my very deep sorrow the mentioned remark came before me. Others spoke about so and so having been the means of bringing the infection, etc. But to me, thanking God for the grace given, there were no second causes to be looked at. No, to God Himself I must trace it, and not to His hand only, but to His heart.
What, His heart? Yes, the same heart that gave Jesus. Oh, the exquisite sweetness and infinite preciousness of the thought were inexpressible! I knew what it was to have God Himself wiping away the tears from my eyes.
Tears Wiped Away
Another incident comes before me which is in every way in keeping with what I have been saying. A young sister in the Lord had just lost her baby, her firstborn, and was in deep grief, as might be supposed. An old brother who knew her well wrote to her and in the letter was the following: “May you know the joy of having Jesus wipe away the tears from your eyes, and know that it is more blessed to have Him wipe away your tears than to have no tears to wipe away.”
In conclusion I would add that I have found in my own experience the truth of what I once heard another say, “There is no bitterness, even in the deepest sorrow, unless the will is at work. It is the working of the will that brings the bitterness.”
A. Trigge