Faith counts them blessed who patiently endure trials, as Job, the saints, and prophets of old did.
But why? Upon what grounds do we count them blessed?
Enduring their trials, God's saints find themselves compelled to cling tightly to their Savior and that brings them into closer, sweeter communion with Him. And that is our happiness! We are blessed, indeed, when we are admitted into the inner chambers of Him whom our souls love, our sorrows more fully reveal to us the Man of Sorrows, our griefs cast us upon the heart of our God, our troubles take us to the Throne of Grace.
Little chicks in the sunshine run all over the yard, pecking and gathering whatever they find. But if a hawk appears in the sky, the mother hen calls them with a sharp alarm. Immediately, they perceive the danger and run under her wings for safety.
But why? Upon what grounds do we count them blessed?
Enduring their trials, God's saints find themselves compelled to cling tightly to their Savior and that brings them into closer, sweeter communion with Him. And that is our happiness! We are blessed, indeed, when we are admitted into the inner chambers of Him whom our souls love, our sorrows more fully reveal to us the Man of Sorrows, our griefs cast us upon the heart of our God, our troubles take us to the Throne of Grace.
Little chicks in the sunshine run all over the yard, pecking and gathering whatever they find. But if a hawk appears in the sky, the mother hen calls them with a sharp alarm. Immediately, they perceive the danger and run under her wings for safety.
One of the most delicious of sensations outside of Heaven, is to fall helplessly into the arms of Christ! There we find strength in helplessness, joy in submission, rest in resignation, and peace in surrender! Anything which gives new life to prayer, brings us to the Throne of Grace, and renews communion with our God is so great a gift that, "we count them blessed who endure."
There is no place in all our pilgrim journey more needful for our souls than the Valley of Humiliation. The tops of the Delectable Mountains are wonderful, exhilarating spots, from which we sometimes see the Golden City. But those are heights too steep for our trembling feet to stand firmly upon them. The valley suits us better, though flesh and blood finds it hard to go downhill. Here our dear Savior manifests Himself to His chosen as He does not to the world. Therefore "we count them blessed who endure."
There is no place in all our pilgrim journey more needful for our souls than the Valley of Humiliation. The tops of the Delectable Mountains are wonderful, exhilarating spots, from which we sometimes see the Golden City. But those are heights too steep for our trembling feet to stand firmly upon them. The valley suits us better, though flesh and blood finds it hard to go downhill. Here our dear Savior manifests Himself to His chosen as He does not to the world. Therefore "we count them blessed who endure."
[Don Fortner]
Psalm 91:4 ... He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
James 1:12 ... Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 5:11 ... Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:11 ... Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Corinthians 4:17 ... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;❤
