He gives us Himself

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted!” Ps. 119:71

We are all familiar with suffering. We are either now
enduring, or shall at some future time endure severe
afflictions. There are few of us therefore to whom the
inquiry may not be interesting–how is affliction a
blessing? The question may be thus answered.

The trials which God allows upon His children
are profitable to them–as they tend under the Divine
blessing to promote piety in the heart….by which
our heavenly Father fits His children for their eternal
rest in glory.

1. they tend to convince the believer of his misery,

and show him that without Christ he cannot be happy.

One great end of your affliction is answered, when you

are led to commence and persevere in a faithful and

earnest application to Christ, as the great Physician.

2. as a trial of faith. Adversity is compared to the fire,

the furnace, the refining-pot or crucible, because it not

only purifies–but tries; it not only consumes the dross–

but ascertains the gold.

3. it strengthens faith, by leading the believer to the

promises–and especially to the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. it leads the believer to exercise entire submission

to the Divine will.

5. it leads the believer to look for complete happiness

in heaven alone. Let the worst, most lingering, and most

aggravated instance of suffering be presented–and the

hope of heaven is still sufficient to mitigate its ills!

It is well to learn to look beyond all secondary, earthly,

imperfect comforts–to God, the source of good, and to

that world where all tears are wiped away!