Some, upon discovering that the Christian's pathway leads not always
through verdant valleys and beside still waters, conclude that the
way is too often rough and that therefore the prize is not worth the
running, become discouraged and turn back into sin. Others, after
wondering and seeking in vain for a way always bright and easy, and
learning that all Christians have similar experiences of inward light
and shade, conclude that these things are part of the way and determine
to take them as a matter of course and make the best of them. They
consider the prize too great to miss, and so they press on at any cost,
having settled down to endure what must be endured and to enjoy what may
be enjoyed, hoping some day for an end to it all, but never discovering
the causes, or being able to think the thoughts of God concerning their
difficulties.
Another class can not be satisfied with this condition of mingled light
and shade. Their souls must ever see the face of God, and with nothing
short of that can they abide content. They would make any sacrifice if
only the glory and joy they desire might be theirs, and without it they
can not be still. Everywhere they turn crying, "Wherefore hidest thou
thy face," "Make me to know my transgression and my sin" (Job 13:23,
24); and, like Job again, 'they go forward, but he is not there; and
backward, but they can not perceive him'; on the right and left they
seek, but can not find him (Job 23:8, 9). But they never quiet their
souls sufficiently for God to tell them the causes of the conditions
which they so much deplore.
Yet another class of Christians go through like experiences with the
others, but somehow God by his grace enables their hearts, perhaps after
years of struggling, to settle down at last into a state of stillness
and calm submission where he can teach them the causes of their troubles
and so bring them out into that "wealthy place" which is the normal
state of a mature Christian. Then they can sing with Job, "I have heard
of thee by the hearing of the ear; but NOW mine eye seeth thee" (Job.
42:5).
In religious as truly as in physical and temporal affairs, there is
never an effect without an adequate cause. If the Word of God loses
its richness, if darkness falls upon the soul, if it is hard to pray,
if there is a lack of victory in any respect, there is a reason, a
sufficient cause for such a condition. Let it be understood here that
the causes are not always, in fact often are not, sins. Much confusion
has arisen from imagining that every chastening of the Lord is the
punishment of some sin, when, in fact, each of God's sons must endure
chastisement that they may become in a fuller sense partakers of his
holiness. Thus, we conclude that all the unpleasant experiences with
which we meet in the upward way must be for the sake of eliminating
something of self and of conforming us more to the divine image. We do
not meet them simply because they are in the way, but they are in the
way because we need them. Hence the best way to meet all such things is
to bring them quickly to Father, not inquiring impatiently, "Why must
I suffer so?" but rather: "What is there in my nature that makes this
suffering necessary? What is it that thou art endeavoring to do for me?
And how may I conduct myself so as to receive the benefit?"