Sanctified Trials
Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.
“Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.� Job 10:2, KJV
If today you are tired, worn down, and acutely feeling the pressures of daily life, perhaps the Lord is doing this to develop your graces. Some of your graces would never be discovered if it we didn’t face trials in our lives.
Do you realize that your faith never looks as grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a firefly, showing little light except when it is in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star, not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God sets the jewels of His children's graces, to make them shine even greater.
It may have been only a little while ago that, on your knees, you were saying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith.� Were you not really, though perhaps unknowingly, praying for trials? For how can you know that you have faith until your faith is tested? God often sends us trials so that our graces may be discovered, and that we may know for sure of their existence.
It is not merely discovery. Real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His children, not in dwellings of ease and luxury, but by using them in hard service. He makes them cross through streams, swim through rivers, climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow on their shoulders. Could this sanctification account for the troubles you are facing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?
“Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to His feet, Lay me low, and keep me there.�
Question: Do you know someone who’s been going through trials who might appreciate hearing this message?
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/11/19/cs_trials/
Tags: comfort, depend, faithful, fear, God's love, heart, hope, peace, power
November 19th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Thank you Mr. Spurgeon for this devotional you have shared. I myself is going through trials every day with my son and it makes me really feel so tired. This is my struggle every day and every morning when I wake up I pray for strength that I may be able to surpass each hard moment with victory and keep hoping that the Lord will give me the grace I am asking of Him to heal our brokenness in our relationship. That peace in his heart and mind be granted to my son and that he may understand...
November 19th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Thank you for this poetic inspiring devotional.
Blessings.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Am so encouraged by this message and going to be sure that every problems that comes my way will have to teach me some thing.thank you very much.and sending these good messages to me.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Thank You for the wonderful words, Yes I know someone who is going through a difficult trial the thing is, she probably would not understand what the words are saying to her. You see it is my Aunt and she is fighting thos horrible illness Alzheimers and her memory is not good. But I know even though she is having a difficult time that God is with her.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Im so blessed for the inspiring messages i read from you,the last few weeks i was going through terrible moments in my relationship and so far am learning that real strength in grace is as a result of sanctified trials,thanks be to God!!!Yes I know someone going through trials,my collegue at work,her boss is so much after her that every time she finds mistake in every thing my collegue is doing but I believe that these trials will make her strong and bring her closer to God and that God will...