Our heavenly Father is never unmindful of those whom sorrow has touched. When David went up the Mount Olivet, "and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot" (2 Samuel 15:30), the Lord was looking pityingly upon him. David was clothed in sackcloth, and his conscience was scourging him. The outward signs of humiliation testified of his contrition. In tearful, heartbroken utterances he presented his case to God, and the Lord did not forsake His servant. Never was David dearer to the heart of Infinite Love than when, conscience-smitten, he fled for his life from his enemies, who had been stirred to rebellion by his own son. The Lord says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Revelation 3:19. Christ lifts up the contrite heart and refines the mourning soul until it becomes His abode.

Frelserens ord indeholder et trøstens budskab til sådanne, som lider trængsel eller mister noget, der er dem kært. Vore sorger vokser ikke op af jorden. »Ej at hjertet plager og piner« Gud »menneskenes børn". (Klages. 3,33). Når han tillader prøvelser og trængsler, gør han det »til vort sande gavn, for at vi skal få del i hans hellighed". (Hebr. 12,10). Dersom prøvelsen, der forekommer os så bitter og svær at bære, modtages i tro, vil den vise sig at være en velsignelse. Det grusomme slag, der gør jordiske glæder til intet, vil blive det middel, der vender vore øjne mod himmelen. Hvor mange er der ikke, som aldrig ville have kendt Jesus, om sorgen ikke havde ledet dem til at søge trøst hos ham!