I recently received an email from Fernette, a listener. She shared with me a letter from Samuel Rutherford to a fellow clergyman following the death of his son:
Reverend and dear brother,
Your home is like the house of which you are a branch: the cross is the rent paid for the life of each person in the house.
I would like to suffer with you if doing so would give you some relief from the trial you are now facing.
My first thought is that you have spoken of how we should respond to trials long before me, yes, before I even knew God.
You know well that He is the Sovereign Lord; He can freely decide to pick a rose or an apple from His garden whenever He wishes. It is not for gardeners like us to decide; the decision belongs to him.
We have learned and have even taught others to know and to celebrate the Lordship which He exercises over all of us, always in a most merciful way, for that is His character.
It is not far-fetched to say that your son has only been moved to another place in the garden, a place where there is more sunlight, and where he will thrive better than previously.
You must think of your son’s departure in this way: the lease you had on him is over and he must return to the one who leased him to you.
Return the boy, that he might bring Him pleasure. Think of your present situation as a college to teach you much of grace.
I know you are such a friend of Christ that when He is a guest in your home you will gladly let Him give and take from you. You know that you have said often to Him that he may take anything of yours, no matter how dear it is to you.
As for me, I am convinced He has not taken without giving, that He has, in some way we do not yet comprehend, made you richer.
I am convinced also that He, knowing you must go through rough waters, has removed from you some burdens so that you may walk more easily on the road which leads to glory. This is how it is as our journey progresses towards our final destination.
In time you will see that this trauma you are enduring will give you a deeper insight into God than any commentary, ancient or modern.
Read this and know it is true: He knows what He is doing.
He is only pruning a fruitful tree, so that it may be more fruitful. I wish you Godspeed as you enter this new chapter in your life.
Be of good courage. Something of yours is now in heaven, in addition to the Saviour Himself who waits to welcome you.
It may seem like a long time before you get there, but it isn’t.
He will do what He has promised. With or without afflictions, you must grow, fill your shell, live for Him and be more than a conqueror. He will make you a sharer in his victory.
I feel like I am telling you what you already know; I feel like I am taking water to the well. I know I am speaking to one who knows better than I the mysteries of our faith and of how God works and walks with us.
I speak these things only because of my love and concern for you.
Do give my regards to your family, and pray for me; be assured that I will pray consistently for you.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,Samuel Rutherford
A letter from Samuel Rutherford to a fellow clergyman following the death of his son
