Weekend Musings ~ Having an Eye to God for Comfort

For the weekend...words from a much sought after journal. David Brainerd's to be exact (on a side note: if you ever see his journal at a garage sale, BUY IT!!).

He was a missionary to the Indians and lived a short life from 1718 to 1747. He suffered greatly with tuberculosis and melancholy...some have speculated that he was bipolar. I'm reading about him in this book, and that is where this quote comes from:

"Such fatigues and hardships as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold, rain, etc., I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward comforts; but now these have less place in my heart (through the grace of God) and my eye is more to God for comfort. In this world I expect tribulation; and it does not now, as formerly, appear strange to me; I don't in such seasons of difficulty flatter myself that it will be better hereafter; but rather think how much worse it might be; how much greater trials others of God's children have endured; and how much greater are yet perhaps reserved for me. Blessed be God that makes (is) the comfort for me, under my sharpest trials; and scarce ever lets these thoughts be attended with terror or melancholy; but they are attended frequently with great joy" ~ David Brainerd

And John Piper adds: "So in spite of the terrible external hardships that Brainerd knew, he pressed on and even flourished under these tribulations that led to the weight of glory in the kingdom of God."