The believer, when smarting under the rod of temporal distress is often ready to say with Jacob, "All these things are against me!" Owing to the weakness of his faith, he concludes that "God has forgotten him." He forgets that "Whom the Lord loves, He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives that his Lord once said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." To sink down under troubles, and conclude that there is no relief for us is to distrust our Father's care and to doubt His everlasting love for us.
It may not seem good to God, who orders each event of our lives to grant us the prosperity which we naturally desire. He may discover in us so much remaining depravity, developed in the forms of pride, sensuality, or self-seeking as to make it necessary to visit us with the rod of correction. When that rod is intended to extirpate these sins, should we not be prepared to kiss it? Is not God's rod designed to wean us from the world and to drive us more closely to the bosom of eternal love? "All things" including of course these very trials and afflictions, God causes to work together for our good.
Are we sick and suffering in body? Let us not despair. The affliction shall work for our good. Relief will come in due time. Or if the sickness "be unto death," God can make it conducive to a calm or triumphant departure.
Are you poor, and apprehensive that your needs may not be supplied? O trust in your Father's care, who will "withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly."
Do enemies beset your path? God can change the bitterest of them into friends, or can defend and deliver you from their ire.
And what though all these afflictions press upon the soul at once even then the promise is not nullified, it is only made the more precious!
Doubt not that His mercy is in your every trial and affliction.
And always remember, that when Heaven is attained, these sorrows will be felt no more forever!
[Jared Waterbury]
Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Psalm 84:11 ... For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Hebrews 12:6 ... For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.❤
