Dear friend, in the matter of your present trial and trouble you have been trying to figure out the design of the Almighty, but without success. You must realize that His ways are past finding out. In all probability, you may never discover God's purpose in your present trial, on this side of eternity.
But that He has a purpose is certain, and His purpose is a wise and kind one. It is such as you yourself would delight in, if you were capable of understanding it. If you could have a mind like God, then you would exactly act as God does, even in this matter that now troubles you. At present your thoughts are far below those of God, and therefore you err when you try to measure His ways.
If you have a quarrel with your heavenly Father about a bereavement or a sickness, then end it at once with humble shame. If it ever comes to a question as to which is right: a poor, ignorant, inexperienced child or a great, good, wise Father; then there cannot be a moment's deliberation: the father's will must be better for the child, than its own will.
Jesus knows what He is doing, and why He is doing it. He has a wise and good reason for loss of your health, those pains in your body, your depression of spirit,
your lack of success in business, even for the allowance of the cruel tongue of slander to inflict its wounds upon you!
In every trial and affliction, we must always trust that Jesus knows what He is doing and that all He does is done in infinite wisdom and love for us, and so it is the best for us.
(The following quotes are also from Spurgeon, but from various other sermons:)
"If we were as wise as God, then we would do just what He now does with us. If we could see all things as He sees them, then we would order all our affairs exactly as He orders them."
"Had we the choosing of our lot, and could we see the end from the beginning, then we would say, 'Lord, choose for me!' For we would feel that if we were as wise as God, then we would make precisely the same choice which He has made for us."
"If we had the arranging of our own lives, and the disposing of all events, and were as wise as God; then we would let things stay exactly as they now are."
"Beloved, if you could be as wise as God, then you would never wish to have a single trial altered. You would desire that the whole course of your life should be precisely as it is."
"The Lord has lent me everything that I have. And now that He has called them back, I will bless His name for having let me enjoy them for so long."
[Charles H. Spurgeon]
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Job 1:21 ... And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Psalm 119:67 ... Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
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. ❤
