Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord

Dear Brother: I have the most tender love for you, and would that it were otherwise with you; that those pursuing you would let you alone. But, my brother, you must bear in mind that these perplexities and annoying things are included in the “all things” that work together for good to those who love God. The Lord’s eye is upon you…. If you will keep up good courage, if you will stay your soul upon God, if you will trust your heavenly Father as a child trusts its parent, and deal justly and love mercy, God can and will work with you. Then amid all your trials you will honor God, and His promise is sure, “Them that honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30).

Remember that your experience is not the first of the kind. You know the history of Joseph and of Daniel. The Lord did not prevent the wicked plottings of their enemies, but He caused all their devices to work for good to those who kept their faith and loyalty amid trial and conflict.

The furnace fires are not to … [destroy], but to refine, ennoble, sanctify. Without these trials we would not feel so much our need of God and His help. We would become proud and self-sufficient. In these trials I see evidence that the Lord’s eye is upon you, and that He means to draw your heart to Himself. It is not the whole, but the wounded, who need a physician; those who are pressed almost beyond the point of endurance, who need a Helper. Turn unto the stronghold. Learn the precious lesson, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus loves you. The experience which you are having makes me glad, not because you are a sufferer, but because this is evidence to me that the Lord is testing and proving you to see if you will come to Him, to see if you will put your trust in Him, if you will find peace and rest in His love….

Jesus has not left you to be surprised and amazed at the trials and difficulties you meet. He has told you all about them, and He has also told you that you should not be cast down and oppressed when trials come. You are to look to Jesus, your Redeemer, and be cheerful and rejoice…. We have a living Saviour, who so loved us that He died for us, that through Him we might have hope, strength, and courage, and a seat with Him upon His throne.—Letter 8, July 16, 1886, to Dr. J. H. Kellogg, director of Battle Creek Sanitarium.

The Upward Look p. 211
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers for my father. He’s in ICU with Covid-19. Ana
—-Please pray for Larry. He is in the hospital. Please pray that the doctors will figure out why he is so anemic and has other health issues going on. Rose
—-Please pray for my niece Audry. She had non smokers lung cancer and it has now moved to her brain and spinal cord. Debbie
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ronnie Jay, Esther Marie, and Brian went camping in Northern Minnesota. Even though it rained almost the entire time, they brought back a multitude of photos and videos of both animals and scenery.How much I enjoyed looking at them! There was so much beauty that I wished I had been there.
Even as I marveled at our Great Creator’s handiwork, there were signs of the enemy’s work in dead and dying flower, leaf, and animal. One poor moose that Ronnie Jay came upon as he was walking off the trail, was nothing more than a bag of bones with skin stretched thinly over them.We felt so sorry for this creature and wondered how long it would be before wolves would find her. That thought makes us look forward all the more to the time when “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev 1:4
Yet, even after 6000 years of sin, there are still scenes of grandeur that are breathtakingly beautiful. These places reminds us of our Great Creator. As we walk beside a river whose rushing water is splashing over great rocks worn smooth by its action, we can think of the works of the Lord upon our heart, constantly bringing about circumstances to mold us into His image. When surrounded by great snowcapped mountains dotted with evergreens nearly to their summit, we can meditate upon the Rock Christ Jesus, Who veiled His glory and majesty and came to this dark and sinful world to live a life filled with all the troubles and trials the evil one could heap upon Him. He is our “chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” He is “the stone which the builders disallowed,” Who is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient.” (1 Peter 2:6,8) As we gaze upon the colorful clouds at the close of the day, we looked forward to our Heavenly Home where all is light and beauty, “and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Rev 21:23
David exclaimed, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Ps 33:6-9; 19:1-6; 8:3-9
May we spend time viewing our Great Creator’s handiwork, that we may praise the Lord for His marvelous creation. May we meditate upon His mighty works, lifting our mind and heart up in thankfulness to the One Who loves us so.
Rose