Often we do not learn the depth and riches of God's love, and the sweetness of His presence until our earthly joys vanish out of our hands, and other beloved presences fade away out of sight.
The loss of temporal things seems often to be necessary to empty our hearts that they may receive unseen and eternal realities. The heart's door is never fully opened to Him until the soul's worldly joys are removed; then, while it stands open, He enters bearing into it immortal joys.
How often is it true, that the sweeping away of our earthly hopes reveals the glory of our heart's refuge in God! Someone has beautifully said, "Our refuges are like the nests of birds: in summer they are hidden among the green leaves but in winter they are seen among the bare branches." Worldly losses but strip off the foliage, and disclose to us our heart's warm nest in the bosom of God.
[J.R. Miller]
Deuteronomy 33:27 ... The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Psalm 142:5 ... I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Hebrews 6:18 ... That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:❤
