April 11, 2026
— William Milne · Source: William Milne, A Retrospect of the First Ten Years of the Protestant Mission to China (1820), on the death of the Medhursts' infant son
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Life's circumstances are like scattered puzzle pieces; individual fragments often seem meaningless, even sharp and jagged, pricking our hands. William Milne's account of how the Medhursts bore the loss of their infant son tells us that God is not the creator of suffering, but rather the unifier of the pieces. When we are heartbroken, we often only see the immediate blow, failing to see the hand that is harmonizing everything. "Mutual benefit" doesn't mean turning bad things into good, but rather that no matter how terrible the circumstances, they cannot hinder the ultimate fulfillment of God's good will. Submission is not a helpless surrender, but a surrender based on trust—believing that the artist who paints the whole picture of life will not make a mistake. This faith gives us the strength to anticipate the dawn even in the deepest darkness.
Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the promises You have given us in the scriptures. When we suffer heavy blows and our hearts are broken, we ask that You personally soothe our pain. We acknowledge our limitations, that we cannot see the deeper meaning behind suffering, but we choose to trust in Your faithfulness and love—You never err, and You have never forsaken us. Lord, grant us the strength of Medhurst, so that we may still have a heart of obedience in all kinds of trials. May Your wondrous work of "all things work together for good" be manifested in our lives. We ask that these fragments of pain be reassembled in Your love into signs of blessing, so that our hearts may find true peace and benefit in Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.