Comfort in Christ’s Promised Presence

ALMIGHTY GOD, who in the time of our shadow and darkness canst be our only true and lasting light, look upon us Thy sad children with Thy constant mercy, and give unto us the spirit of understanding promised by Thy dear Son. When our eyes no longer behold what we have loved, and we listen for the footsteps of those who have gone out of our sight, and find them not, what can we do but turn to Thee? And when our hearts fail us, and we sigh for that which cannot be, and no traveller comes back from that far country, and there be none to comfort us, make us to trust in Thee. Then comfort our simple souls with the words of Thy Son: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Lord God! Who hast filled us with much earthly love, if one we loved should say to us, “Where I go, there shall ye be also,” all doubt would vanish, and hope would arise, and faith grow strong, and we should quietly wait. And is it so, Almighty God, that we shall ever be with Him, Thy Son? It is enough. Why, we ask not; how, we know not; when, we care not; these things are Thine. Where Thou leadest we will follow. Enough for us to hear Thy voice: “Where I am, there shall ye be also.”

In times of sadness let this comfort us. When, like
“infants crying in the night,”
and looking for the light, the customary light, and finding it not, we wail to Thee in the darkness, then let the sweet words, “Where I am, there shall ye be also,” comfort us. To be in Christ is to be in light. To be where He is, is to be in love. Safe are they who know that the Shepherd is near.

When the mind is too weary to work, and the soul is too sad to think, and we can do nothing but sit upon the ground and say nothing, still let the sweet words, “Where I am, there shall ye be also,” comfort us. In Him is all fulness, with Him is all fulness. In Him is all love, with Him is all love. Let these words never wear out. Let them be as fine gold that can never become dim.

The little child crieth in the dark for want of light, but when it feels the touch of the mother’s hand, and hears her soft voice bidding it rest—though still it is dark, yet the sweet words are there; and though the lamp of light be gone, the child sleeps again. Lord God! what are we but little children crying in the dark? Let the touch of Thy hand be felt by us, and let the sweet tones of Thy voice be heard. We ask no more than this to hear once again the words: “Where I am, there shall ye be also.”

Then shall we sleep again in peace; then shall we be quiet; then faith shall have her perfect work; then shall we trust Thee, and be still; then hope shall light its lamp; and we, being found diligent in Thy service, shall cry, “Establish Thou the work of our hands, O God; yea, the work of our hands, establish Thou it.”

Give us this comfort of Christ, through the Spirit of truth, in which grant us all to abide for evermore, through Jesus Christ our Lord.—AMEN.