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The Discipline of Suffering

We found the following selection from Ellen White's 1903 book entitled Education to be quite precious and encouraging. If you've ever gone through hard times, this selection gives some ideas as to why.

The Discipline of Suffering All who in this world render true service to God or man receive a preparatory training in the school of sorrow. The weightier the trust and the higher the service, the closer is the test and the more severe the discipline. Study the experiences of Joseph and of Moses, of Daniel [p. 152] and of David. Compare the early history of David with the history of Solomon, and consider the results.     David & Solomon—S. M. Davis collection David in his youth was intimately associated with Saul, and his stay at court and his connection with the king's household gave him an insight into the cares and sorrows and perplexities concealed by the glitter and pomp of royalty. He saw of how little worth is human glory to bring peace to the soul. And it was with relief and gladness that he returned from the king's court to the sheepfolds and the flocks. When by the jealousy of Saul driven a fugitive into the wilderness, David, cut off from human support, leaned more heavily upon God. The uncertainty and unrest of the wilderness life, its unceasing peril, its necessity for frequent flight, the character of the men who gathered to him there,—"everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented" (1 Samuel 22:2),—all rendered the more essential a stern self-discipline. These experiences aroused and developed power to deal with men, sympathy for the oppressed, and hatred of injustice. Through years of waiting and peril, David learned to find in God his comfort, his support, his life. He learned that only by God's power could he come to the throne; only in His wisdom could he rule wisely. It was through the training in the school of hardship and sorrow that David was able to make the record—though afterward marred with his great sin—that he "executed judgment and justice unto all his people." 2 Samuel 8:15. The discipline of David's early experience was lacking in that of Solomon. In circumstances, in character, and in life, he seemed favored above all others. Noble [p. 153] in youth, noble in manhood, the beloved of his God, Solomon entered on a reign that gave high promise of prosperity and honor. Nations marveled at the knowledge and insight of the man to whom God had given wisdom. But the pride of prosperity brought separation from God. From the joy of divine communion Solomon turned to find satisfaction in the pleasures of sense. Of this experience he says: "I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards: . . . I got me servants and maidens: . . . I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem. . . . And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor. . . . Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done." "I hated life. . . . Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:4-12, 17, 18. By his own bitter experience, Solomon learned the emptiness of a life that seeks in earthly things its highest good. He erected altars to heathen gods, only to learn how vain is their promise of rest to the soul. In his later years, turning wearied and thirsting from [p. 154] earth's broken cisterns, Solomon returned to drink at the fountain of life. The history of his wasted years, with their lessons of warning, he by the Spirit of inspiration recorded for after generations. And thus, although the seed of his sowing was reaped by his people in harvests of evil, the lifework of Solomon was not wholly lost. For him at last the discipline of suffering accomplished its work. But with such a dawning, how glorious might have been his life's day had Solomon in his youth learned the lesson that suffering had taught in other lives!—Education, pp. 151-154.

"The weightier the trust and the higher the service, the closer is the test and the more severe the discipline." Isn't that a precious thought? Praise God!

Give Us Your Opinion

What do you think of "The Discipline of Suffering"?

Ellen White based what she said above on the Bible, but I suspect she knew it from personal experience too. She suffered a lot. 66.7% I found it really encouraging. Everything has been going wrong, but maybe God has a plan for my life after all. 19.0% Come to think of it, both Moses and Joseph were entrusted with awesome responsibilities, but only after years of hardship. I do believe she's right on this one! 9.5% Maybe if I hadn't had it so easy, I would be a stronger person today. But I will ask God to help me be more faithful. 4.8% Total Votes: 21