| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 13 |
Page 6 |
The same transformation takes place in every sorrow of Christian faith; it is turned into joy. In the depths of every dark thundercloud there is a rainbow hidden, which will break forth when the sun smites upon the cloud. And there is no trouble that comes to any Christian which has not, lying concealed within its folds, a divine blessing of joy, which will be revealed when the love of Christ shines upon it. You bow low in sorrow then death has touched a loved one of yours and the circle is broken. The loss seems irreparable. The grief appears too deep ever to receive comfort. But the Comforter comes, the consolations of divine love are given, and the sorrow is turned into joy. The sense of loss is not taken away. The friend is not given back. The keenness of the grief is not softened. But the love of Christ is revealed. The truth of immortal blessedness becomes a window through which faith’s eyes sees into the heavenly glory, beholding, not death, but radiant life. The will of God, that seemed to crush like a falling avalanche the heart’s frail joys, appears not the very hand of love, blessing, and doing good. The sorrow becomes deep joy.
In every life that has passed through such experiences and has kept its faith, the sweetest, richest joys are always transformed sorrow. The best things in any life are not things born of summer days, the things that come without cost or effort. One writes:—
“Joys that cost nothing give us little pleasure;
We value most the things most hardly won.
Men that delve deep to find earth’s hidden treasure
Would pass it by if open to the sun.”
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