me from this ministry of friendship, he
hesitated not. For some reason he saw that it would be indeed a
blessing to his friends to bring back the dead. It was because he
loved the sisters and the brother that he lingered, and did not hasten
when the message reached him beyond the river. We may be sure,
therefore, that the raising of Lazarus, though only to a little more of
the old life of weakness, had a blessing in it for the family. This
was the best way in which Jesus could show his sympathy, the best
comfort he could give his friends.

No doubt thousands of other friends of Jesus in the sorrow of
bereavement have wished that he would comfort them in like way, by
giving back their beloved. Ofttimes he does what is in effect the
same,--in answer to the prayer of faith he spares the lives of those
who are dear. When we pray for our sick friends, we only ask
submissively that they may recover. "Not my will, but thine be done,"
is the refrain of our pleading. Even our most passionate longing we
subdue in the quiet confidence of our faith. If it is not best for our
dear ones; if it would not be a real blessing; if it is not God's
way,--then "Thy will be done." If we pray the prayer of faith, we must
believe that the issue, whatever it may be, is God's best for us.

If our friend is taken away after such committing of faith to God's
wisdom and love, there is immeasurable comfort at once in the
confidence that it was God's will. Then, while no miracle is wrought,
bringing back our dead, the sympathy of Christ yet brings practical
consolation. The word comfort means strengthening. We are helped to
bear our sorrow.

The teaching of the Scriptures is that when we come with our trials to
God, he either relieves us of them, or gives us the grace we need to
endure them. He does not promise to lift away the burden that we cast
upon him, but he will sustain us in our bearing of the burden. When
the human presence is taken from us, Christ comes nearer than before,
and reveals to us more of his love and grace.

The problem of sorrow in a Christian life is a very serious one. It is
important that we have a clear understanding upon the subject, that we
may receive blessing and not hurt from our experience. Every sorrow
that comes into our life brings us something good from God; but we may
reject the good, and if we do, we receive evil instead. The comfort
God gives is not the taking away of the trouble, nor is it