What a pillow on which
to rest your aching head
"Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now
for a season, if need be, you are in
heaviness through many trials." 1 Peter 1:6
"If need be!" Three gracious words!
Not one of all my tears has
been shed for nothing!
Not one stroke of the rod has
been unneeded, or that might
have been spared!
Your heavenly FATHER loves you too
much, and too tenderly, to bestow
harsher correction than your case requires!
Is it loss of health, or loss of wealth,
or loss of beloved friends?
Be still! there was a needs be!
We are no judges of what that "needs be" is.
Often through aching hearts we are forced
to exclaim,
"YOUR judgments are a great deep!"
(Psalm 36:6b)
But GOD here pledges HIMSELF that
there will not be one unnecessary thorn
in the believer's crown of suffering!
No burden too heavy will be laid on him.
No sacrifice too great will be exacted from him.
GOD will temper the wind to the shorn lamb.
Whenever the "need be" has accomplished
its end, then . . .
the rod is removed;
the chastisement is suspended;
the furnace is quenched.
"If need be!" Oh! what a pillow on
which to rest your aching head--
that there is not a drop in all your bitter
cup but what a GOD of Love saw to be
absolutely necessary!
Trust HIS loving heart--
even though you cannot trace
HIS mysterious hand!
Do not be too curious to prying
into the "Why it is?" or "How it is?"
But satisfied that "So it is," and,
therefore, that all must be well.
"What I am doing you do not
understand now, but afterward
you will understand." John 13:7
~ ~ ~ ~
Gardiner Spring, "The Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character"
Chapter 3. FORM OF RELIGION
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