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The Voice of Christ
My child, I am the Lord Who gives strength in the day
of trouble. Come to Me when all is not well with you.
Your tardiness in turning to prayer is the greatest
obstacle to heavenly consolation, for before you pray
earnestly to Me you first seek many comforts and take
pleasure in outward things. Thus, all things are of
little profit to you until you realize that I am the
one Who saves those who trust in Me, and that outside
of Me there is no worth-while help, or any useful
counsel or lasting remedy.But now, after the
tempest, take courage, grow strong once more in the
light of My mercies; for I am near, says the Lord, to
restore all things not only to the full but with
abundance and above measure. Is anything difficult
for Me? Or shall I be as one who promises and does
not act? Where is your faith? Stand firm and
persevere. Be a man of endurance and courage, and
consolation will come to you in due time. Wait for
Me; wait -- and I will come to heal you.
It is only a temptation that troubles you, a vain
fear that terrifies you.
Of what use is anxiety about the future? Does it
bring you anything but trouble upon trouble?
Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. It is
foolish and useless to be either grieved or happy
about future things which perhaps may never happen.
But it is human to be deluded by such imaginations,
and the sign of a weak soul to be led on by
suggestions of the enemy. For he does not care
whether he overcomes you by love of the present or
fear of the future.
Let not your heart be troubled, therefore, nor let
it be afraid. Believe in Me and trust in My mercy.
When you think you are far from Me, then often I am
very near you. When you judge that almost all is
lost, then very often you are in the way of gaining
great merit.
All is not lost when things go contrary to your
wishes. You ought not judge according to present
feelings, nor give in to any trouble whenever it
comes, or take it as though all hope of escape were
lost. And do not consider yourself forsaken if I send
some temporary hardship, or withdraw the consolation
you desire. For this is the way to the kingdom of
heaven, and without doubt it is better for you and
the rest of My servants to be tried in adversities
than to have all things as you wish. I know your
secret thoughts, and I know that it is profitable for
your salvation to be left sometimes in despondency
lest perhaps you be puffed up by success and fancy
yourself to be what you are not.
What I have given, I can take away and restore when
it pleases Me. What I give remains Mine, and thus
when I take it away I take nothing that is yours, for
every good gift and every perfect gift is Mine.
If I send you trouble and adversity, do not fret or
let your heart be downcast. I can raise you quickly
up again and turn all your sorrow into joy. I am no
less just and worthy of great praise when I deal with
you in this way.
If you think aright and view things in their true
light, you should never be so dejected and saddened
by adversity, but rather rejoice and give thanks,
considering it a matter of special joy that I afflict
you with sorrow and do not spare you. "As the Father
hath loved Me, so also I love you," I said to My
disciples, and I certainly did not send them out to
temporal joys but rather to great struggles, not to
honors but to contempt, not to idleness, but to
labors, not to rest but to bring forth much fruit in
patience. Do you, My child, remember these words.
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