Storms and tempests,
affliction!" Lamentations 3:1
Like the rest of Adam's discontented
family, I am often . . .
grumbling at my griefs,
complaining of my afflictions, and
on the brink of quarreling at
the conduct of Providence itself!
To be without afflictions is impossible
here below, where man is born to trouble
as the sparks fly upward. Not to feel when
afflicted, is a stoical, impious stupidity.
But to sink under troubles of any kind,
is beneath the character of the Christian.
Yet, when I reflect on that eternity
of bliss which is before me, on that
world of glory of which I am an heir--
I wonder that my afflictions are not more.
Is it too much for me to stumble among
the 'rough stones of adversity'--
to have my flesh pricked with
the 'thorns of trouble'--
who shall so soon walk
the golden streets of Heaven,
and wear a crown of immortal glory?
Though the whole earth
should rise up against me--
if Heaven, and the GOD
of Heaven are for me--
I am in perfect safety in the midst
of all the storms and tempests,
whirlwinds and hurricanes
which can blow!
of CHRIST? Can affliction or anguish
or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword? No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors
through HIM who loved us.
For I am persuaded that . . .
neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present,
nor things to come,
nor powers,
nor height,
nor depth,
nor any other created thing,
can separate us from the love of GOD
that is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD!"
Romans 8:35-39
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