Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 2 (1869 - 1875)

Lt 2b, 1874

White, W. C.

Santa Rosa, California

January 11, 1874

This letter is published in entirety in 11MR 357-359.

My Dear Clarence:

We received your letter last night and we were very glad to hear from you. We felt sorry to hear that you feel lonely. We were not sorry to learn that our absence is felt, this would be only natural. We hope, my son, that you will not depend upon anyone or any surroundings for happiness. Look aloft, my boy, look aloft. There is a heaven full of consolation for those who seek it. You have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He pleads your cause before His Father. He has invited you to come to Him and cast all your care upon Him. 2LtMs, Lt 2b, 1874, par. 1

The invitation is to you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls: for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] 2LtMs, Lt 2b, 1874, par. 2

Your only safety and happiness are in making Christ your constant Counselor. You can be happy in Him if you had not another friend in the wide world. Your feelings of unrest and homesickness or loneliness may be for your good. Your heavenly Father means to teach you to find in Him the friendship and love and consolation that will satisfy your most earnest hopes and desires. I fear that you are striving to carry your own burden. It is too heavy for you. Jesus bids you cast it upon Him that He may carry it for you. There is an experience for you to gain in faith and trust in God. He is faithful who hath promised. You must exercise faith in the promises of God. 2LtMs, Lt 2b, 1874, par. 3

Do not be over anxious about anything. Go quietly about your duty which the day brings you. Do the best you can; ask God to be your Helper. Do what you can, and do not neglect to pray and watch thereunto and in no case neglect your religious duties. Never let your studies interfere with your religious exercises. You want to be obtaining a more thorough knowledge of the Will of God as well as to advance in the sciences. If one must be neglected, let it never be religious duties. Go on from day to day doing what you well can, and be content with that. You may say, I do the best I can today, and leave what I cannot do without worriment or care. And when tomorrow comes I will, in the fear of the Lord, do what I can on the morrow. Thus from day to day pursue your course of duty, trusting in God to be your Helper and to give you quick perception and heavenly wisdom that you may be fitted to honor Him with your talents. 2LtMs, Lt 2b, 1874, par. 4

Have you fully consecrated yourself to the Lord? Feel every day, “I am doing my work for God. I am not living for myself, to glorify myself, but to glorify God.” Oh, trust in Jesus and not in your own heart. Cast your burdens and yourself upon Him. If you feel no joy, no consolation, do not be discouraged. Hope and believe. You may have a precious experience in the things of God. Wrestle with your discouragements and doubts until you gain the victory over them in Jesus’ name. Do not encourage grief, despondency, and darkness. Cast your burden upon Jesus and be sure not to withhold yourself. 2LtMs, Lt 2b, 1874, par. 5

Is not God’s Word sufficient for you without the assurance of emotion or joy? Can you not trust Him and believe without feeling? Repose in the broad, sure promises of God. Rest in these promises, without a doubt. Find time, my son, to comfort some other heart, to bless with a kind, cheering word someone who is battling with temptation, and may be with affliction. In thus blessing another with cheering, hopeful words, pointing him to the Burden-bearer, you may unexpectedly find peace, happiness and consolation yourself. 2LtMs, Lt 2b, 1874, par. 6

But I entreat of you to drop your burdens upon the Burden-bearer. You will not then be drifting away from God, for by faith you are anchored upon His promises. You cannot doubt the love of your dear Saviour for you, my son, even for you. You cannot distrust His mercy. Only believe He has spared you to work for Him. Seek for a deep and living experience in the things of God, and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest to your soul. 2LtMs, Lt 2b, 1874, par. 7