Our only refuge in sorrow

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(J.R. Miller, "The Shining Light" 1911)

"Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them: Sit here while I go over there and pray." Matthew 26:36

We see the Master at prayer in Gethsemane. It was here that He prepared for His Cross. We should notice that His refuge in His exceeding sorrow, was prayer; and that as the sorrow deepened, the refuge still was prayer. "Being in an agony--He prayed more earnestly."

Just so, prayer is our only refuge in sorrow.

The lesson from the garden prayer, is that we should take . . .
all the hard things,
all the anguishes,
all the insufferable pains,
all the bitter griefs of our lives
--to God in prayer.

We may be sure, too, that God will answer. If He does not relieve us of the suffering--He will strengthen us so that we can keep it, and still go on trusting and singing!

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