Sweetness at the Bottom by John Avant

One of my heroes is a man name Adoniram Judson. He was one of the very first missionaries sent from America. He labored in vain for many years but eventually millions came to Christ in Burma and far beyond.

But there was a terrible price to pay. Eventually, Judson saw two wives and eight children die! There were times when he almost lost hope. 

Judson said, “God is to me the Great Unknown. I believe in Him, but I find Him not.” 

But God did not abandon him. 

After the death of his first wife, he wrote to another missionary wife who had lost her husband. Little did he know that she would become his second wife. These were the words he wrote to her:

“Yet take the bitter cup with both hands, and … You will soon learn a secret, that there is sweetness at the bottom…”

Sweetness at the bottom.  

We all drink from a bitter cup sometimes. Even in ministry. Especially in ministry. 

Does the sweetness in your cup seem far away?

It may be closer than you think. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ 

“In the Lord!”  Think about it.  Joy is not found in joyful circumstances but in Jesus.  If this is true, then joy is never far away from you!

For He is close. 

Listen to the words of our friends in a country where they are terribly persecuted:

“When we come to Jesus it is not about me anymore. We died then and now life is about Him.  We suffer but God needs our pain. He uses the pain of believers here to fulfill his prophesies. In the past no one would come to faith here.  Now we pray. We love. We share. And people come to Jesus immediately. We don’t have our own strategy. We have the Holy Spirit. And He has us. And we live together in His power!”

Don’t try to feel better today!  Don’t pursue happiness. Pursue Jesus. Joy is there. 

There is sweetness at the bottom of the cup. His name is Jesus.