Feelings of Despair Come to Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28 Ellen White, in the first volume of her extensive discourse to the church, Testimonies to the Church, recounts her conversion as a young woman. Maybe you cant relate; maybe you can. I definitely know that I do: ...there was in my heart a feeling that I could never become worthy to be called a child of God. A lack of confidence in myself, and a conviction that it would be impossible to make anyone understand my feelings, prevented me from seeking advice and aid from my Christian friends. Thus I wandered needlessly in darkness and despair, while they, not penetrating my reserve, were entirely ignorant of my true state. - Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 1, pg. 14 My hope was so small, and my faith so weak, that I feared if another took a similar view of my condition, it would plunge me into despair. Yet I longed for someone to tell me what I should do to be saved, what steps to take to meet my Saviour and give myself entirely up to the Lord. I regarded it a great thing to be a Christian, and felt that it required some peculiar effort on my part. - Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 1, pg. 16 ...some peculiar effort on my part. It has always been the greatest obstacle God faces in bringing salvation to humanity: mans inherent need to do something. We like being busy; it gives us a feeling of usefulness and value. But salvation is incomprehensible. Some grasp after it like reaching for the wind on a dark night; some simply walk away from it calling it nonsensical. Others, struggle. We struggle to find what it is we must do. After all the reading, the praying, the believing, what must we do to be saved? Take a look at what Mrs. White found in the midst of her despair: Those who were waiting to make themselves more worthy of divine favor before they venture to claim the promises of God, were making a fatal mistake. Jesus alone cleanses from sin; He only can forgive our transgressions. He has pledged Himself to listen to the petition and grant the prayer of those who come to Him in faith. Many had a vague idea that they must make some wonderful effort in order to gain the favor of God. But all self-dependence is vain. It is only by connecting with Jesus through faith that the sinner becomes a hopeful, believing child of God. These words comforted me and gave me a view of what I must do to be saved. - Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 1, pg. 16 She saw the simplicity of it all. Jesus is already and always there: come. No special effort; no approval by way of a spiritual high; nothing added, nothing subtracted. The Saviour offered this centuries ago when He simply said, Come and rest. Yes, it is that easy. Go, and rest.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 11:14:49 +0000
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