Oh, welcome sorrow!
welcome suffering!(Ashton Oxenden, "The Blessings and Trials of Sickness" 1863)
"I know their sorrows!" Exodus 3:7
Thank GOD for this!
I have often said within myself,
"No one knows my sorrows--
no one can tell what I suffer!"
But now I hear, as it were, a
voice from Heaven, saying to me,
"I know your sorrows!"
It is my heavenly FATHER who
speaks these words. HE measures
out every sorrow to me. There is
not one too many. There is not one
heavier, or sharper, than is needful.
Neither am I called upon to bear them
one day longer than is good for me.
No matter what my sorrow is;
No matter what my sorrow is;
whether it arises from pain
of body or anguish of heart--
it is the cross that my FATHER
has laid upon me, and I will
cheerfully bear it. I will kiss
the hand that smites me, for
it is my heavenly FATHER'S!
It is no small comfort to feel that
the LORD "knows our sorrows."
Therefore we may be quite sure
HE will not lay upon us more than
we can bear.
As the refiner of silver carefully
watches the metal while it is
in the hot furnace--
so does JESUS watch over HIS
suffering people. There is no trial
too small, and no pang too hidden--
for HIS eye to reach, and HIS heart
to pity. HE feels for them, and
tenderly loves them.
Oh, welcome sorrow!
welcome suffering--
if it only weans me from this
treacherous world, and drives
me to my SAVIOR'S arms!
~ ~ ~ ~
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