While we rejoice in the glorious revelation of God's love that teaches us concerning

the fullness of Christ and our acceptance in Him, and while we may be persuaded that

neither death nor life shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ

Jesus our Lord, there are times when circumstances are such that even words of comfort

are not despised, but, rather, eagerly received. In the general body of our witness the

reader must expect to find much that will be the strong meat of the Word, but in these

smaller articles we seek to pass on those words of comfort that are found scattered

throughout the pages of Scripture and which are the preserve of no one particular

In his epistles the apostle Peter has much to say of suffering, and while some of his

statements have particular reference to "the dispersion scattered abroad", there are also

some which constitute mitigation of misery, palliatives in persecution, balm in Gilead,

available for every one of the redeemed, whatever may be his hope and calling. The first

word of comfort that Peter gives is found in I Pet. 1: 6 where he says:

For a season.--What a difference it makes to us in sorrow or distress to be able to

look beyond the present darkness, to the future dawn that we know must come. Manifold

as temptations may be, they are limited, they are "but for a season". The R.V. translates

the passage: "For a little while"; Weymouth gives: "For a short time", and Moffatt:

"For the passing moment". Primarily the word means "few" as contrasted with "many".

It is used of number, "Few there be that find it" (Matt. 7: 14); of place, "A little farther

thence" (Mark 1: 19); of time, "It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and

then vanisheth away" (James 4: 14); of quantity, "Use a little wine" (I Tim. 5: 23); and

of magnitude, "No small stir" (Acts 12: 18).

It is evident that the Spirit of God would minister comfort to all that are in distress for

Christ's sake, by drawing their attention to its comparative brevity. We say "comparative

brevity" advisedly, for we all know that some hours of our experience have seemed like

centuries, and we do well to let this relative element work for good as well as for ill.

Look at the two points of view, and their effect upon mind and heart, that dominate the

words that follow. One child of God under the pressure of his suffering cries out: