Why These Afflictions?
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy
statutes. Ps. 119:71.
We must not think when we are afflicted that the anger of the Lord is
upon us. God brings us into trials in order that we may be drawn near to
Him. The psalmist says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the
Lord delivereth him out of them all" (Ps. 34:19). He does not desire us to
be under a cloud. . . . He does not desire us to go in anguish of spirit. We
are not to look at the thorns and the thistles in our experience. We are to
go into the garden of God's Word and pluck the lilies and roses and the
fragrant pinks of His promises. Those who look upon the difficulties in
their experience will talk doubt and discouragement, for they do not behold
Jesus, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.
We should keep our minds upon the love, the mercy, and the graciousness
of our God. . . . It is no sign that Jesus has ceased to love us because we
experience doubts and discouragements. Affliction comes to us in the
providence of God in order that we may see that Christ is our helper, that
in Him is love and consolation. We may receive grace whereby we may be
overcomers and inherit the life that measures with the life of God. We must
have such an experience that when affliction comes upon us we shall not
depart from the faith. . . .
By the hand of faith grasp the promises of God and be upon vantage
ground. Then you will be where Satan cannot come near and say, "God cannot
help you, because you have sinned and you cannot claim the promises." The
adversary desires to have us think that the way to life is so difficult that
it will be impossible to reach the bliss of heaven. But God has placed us in
circumstances where the very best of our natures may be developed and the
highest faculties may be exercised. If we cultivate the good, the
objectionable tendencies will not gain the supremacy, and at last we shall
be accounted worthy to join the family above. If we desire to be saints
above we must be saints upon the earth.
>From That I May Know Him - Page 278
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