At a superficial view it appears that adversity happens to all alike,
without regard to rank or condition. People are continually rising and
falling in all degrees of association. We often see men of high
expectations cut down and left to struggle with despair and ruin. Much
of the most useful work done by men and women has been amidst
afflictions—sometimes as a relief from it, sometimes as a sense of
duty overwhelming their personal sorrows.
There beats not a heart but that has felt the force of adversity.
There is not an eye but has witnessed many scenes of sorrow. How can
we exercise the grace of contentment if all things succeed well, or
that of forgiveness if we have no enemies! Sad accidents and a state
of adversity are the school of virtue. It reduces our spirits to
soberness and our counsels to moderation. God, who governs the world
in mercy and wisdom, never would have suffered the virtuous ones to
endure so many afflictions did He not intend that they should be the
seminary of comfort, the nursery of virtue, the exercise of wisdom and
the trial of patience, venturing for a crown and the gate of glory.
Adversity sent by Providence must be submitted to in a humble spirit,
or they will not conduce to lasting good. As the musician straineth at
his strings, and yet breaketh none of them, but maketh thereby a sweet
melody and better concord. Adversity is the medicine of the mind. If
it is not pleasing it is wholesome. No soul is so obscure that God
does not take thought for its schooling. The sun is the central light
of the solar system; but it has a mission to the ripening corn and the
purpling cluster on the vine, as well as the ponderous planet. The
sunshine that comes fluttering through the morning mists with healing
on its wings, and charging all the birds to singing, should have also
a message from God to sad hearts. No soul is so grief-laden that it
may not be lifted to sources of heavenly comfort by recognizing the
divine love in the recurrence of earthly blessings. In a great
adversity there is no light either in the mind or in the sun, for when
the inward light is fed with fragrant oil there can be no darkness,
though clouds should cover the sun. But when, like a sacred lamp in
the temple, the inward light is quenched, there is no light outwardly,
though a thousand suns should preside in the heavens.