God never uses anyone to a great degree until He breaks the person completely. Joseph experienced more sorrow than the other sons of Jacob, and it led him into a ministry of food for all the nations. For this reason, the Holy Spirit said of him, "Joseph is a fruitful vine ... near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall" (Genesis 49:22). It takes sorrow to expand and deepen the soul.
(The Heavenly Life)
The words that hurt you, the letter that caused you pain, the cruelty of your closest friend, your financial need - they are all known to Him. He sympathizes as no one else can and watches to see if through it all, you will dare to trust Him completely.
The disappointments of life are simply the hidden appointments of love.
(C.A. Fox)
The best things in life are the result of being wounded. Wheat must be crushed before becoming bread, and incense must be burned by fire before its fragrance is set free. The earth must be broken with a sharp plow before being ready to receive the seed. And it is a broken heart that pleases God. The sweetest joys of life are the fruits of sorrow.
(Frederick Wiliiam Robertson)
A bar of steel worth five dollars, when wrought into horseshoes, is
worth ten dollars. If made into needles, it is worth three hundred and
fifty dollars; if into penknife blades, it is worth thirty-two thousand
dollars; if into springs for watches it is worth two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. What a drilling the poor bar must undergo to be worth
this! But the more it is manipulated, the more it is hammered, and
passed through the fire, and beaten and pounded and polished, the
greater the value.
May this parable help us to be silent, still, and longsuffering. Those
who suffer most are capable of yielding most; and it is through pain
that God is getting the most out of us, for His glory and the blessing
of others.
(Selected)
Minnie and George Lacy were faced with some questions: “Is Jesus enough? Is our relationship with Christ sufficient to sustain us? Will He be enough to help us want to go on living? Does He care?” While serving as missionaries in 1904, the Lacys’ youngest daughter fell ill. Then in rapid succession, all five of their children died from scarlet fever, none living to see the new year. In letters to the mission board George Lacy wrote about their deep loneliness and grief: “Sometimes it seems more than we can bear.” But then he added, “The Lord is with us and is wonderfully helping us.” In this, their darkest time, they found that Jesus was near and He was enough.
Many of us will face moments when we will wonder if we can go on. If our health fails, if our job disappears, if we lose those closest to us, will we find our relationship with the Lord real enough to keep us pressing forward?
The psalmist reminds us of God’s presence and faithfulness (Ps. 30). When he was deeply depressed, he cried out, “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” (v.10). God gave Him healing and comfort (vv.2-3).
~Selected~
We must understand that it is impossible to control the action of other people. Some offend and hurt intentionally. Others are not aware that their actions and words are hurting us. Whatever it may be, we must learn to respond and not react.
- Remember Jesus (50 days of reading & reflection) -
