The comfort in such a grief, is that which comes through faith in God
even in the sore pain. The child was given to God in his infancy, and
was brought up as God's child along his early years. Who will say that
he may not yet, in some way, at some time, be brought back to God? The
daily burden may then daily be laid in the divine hands. The heart's
anguish may express itself not in despairing cries, but in believing
prayers, inspired by the promises, and kindled into fervency by blessed
hope. Then peace will come, not painless peace, but peace which lies
on Christ's bosom in the darkness, and loves and trusts and asks no
questions, but waits with all of hope's expectancy.
At the same time we are never to forget, while we trust God for the
outcome of our disappointments, that every sorrow has its mission to
our life. There is something he desires it to work in us. What it may
be in any particular instance we cannot tell; nor is it wise for us to
ask. The wisest, truest thing we can do is reverently to open our
hearts to the ministry of the sorrow, asking God to do his will in us,
not allowing us to hinder the beautiful work he would do, and helping
us to rejoice even in the grief. The tears may continue to flow, but
then with Mrs. Browning we can sing:--
"I praise thee while my days go on;
I love thee while my days go on;
Through dark and death, through fire and frost,
With emptied arms and treasure lost,
I thank thee while my days go on.
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