April 3, 2026
— William Milne · Source: A Retrospect of the First Ten Years of the Protestant Mission to China (1820), Appendix
2 Corinthians 1:4-5 He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we might comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. Just as we share abound in the sufferings of Christ, so too do we abound in his comfort.
In Malacca, Milne knew sickness and the grief of losing his wife, and he often heard critics say that missionaries had "been long at work and effected nothing." In his Retrospect he wrote that while God's servants are cast down and ready to faint for want of success, the Holy Spirit is often working in secret. Paul tells us that God comforts us in all our tribulation, so that we may comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received. Our moments of discouragement are usually not moments when God has stopped working, only moments when we cannot see His work. Only when we have first been comforted by the Lord in our own trials can the cup we offer truly refresh thirsty and suffering souls.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for redefining my predicament through Milne's words and Paul's teachings. Lord, forgive me for always trying to escape the trials of life, and for losing heart when I see no results. Amid misunderstanding and scarcity, help me trust that You are still working in secret, and wear away my self-righteousness, and let my life no longer be hardened. Lord Jesus, grant me Your comfort in my suffering, so that these experiences may become the anointing of service. May I not only provide resources, but also offer a gentle warmth "healed by the Lord," bringing Your love into the deepest cracks of people's hearts. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.