(Susannah Spurgeon, “Words of Cheer and Comfort for Sick and Sorrowful Souls!” 1898)
“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loved you!” Deuteronomy 7:7-8
My gracious God, there is a honeycomb of delight and sweetness in these words! Will You put the rod of faith into my hand, this morning? Enable me to dip the end thereof into this rich provision, that my soul may eat and be satisfied, and that the eyes of my understanding may be enlightened?
“Because the Lord loved you!” This is His great “reason” for all of God’s dealings with His redeemed people.
It is a full answer to all the doubts and questionings with which Satan can perplex and distress the Lord’s timid ones. The enemy of souls has a powerful confederate in the unbelief which lurks within us. But they will both be vanquished when we have learned to use this weapon of war against them.
The foe says, “Why does God allow you affliction, sorrow, and suffering when those who do not fear His Name have continual quietness and abounding prosperity?”
If you can boldly answer, “It is because the Lord loves me!” Then you will have given him such a sword-thrust as will free you, for a time, at least, from his cunning devices and fierce onslaughts.
Bring your fears and forebodings out of their dusky corners, and place them within the radiance of this light of love. You will be amazed to see them transformed into confident trusts. Your doubts will vanish as if they had never been. Because the evil and bitter things of life will all be transformed into blessings in a moment.
“Because the Lord loved you!” is the master-key which fits the locks of the hardest question.
It opens the mysteries of the deepest problem! It is a charm of wondrous efficacy, and every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ may rejoice in its possession.
What ails you? Is it loss of health, friends, or means? Has God taken from you some dearly-loved one, and left you alone on this sad earth? Is He allowing many and varied tests and troubles? Whatever may be your immediate and peculiar sorrow, if you have grace and faith enough to say, “This is because the Lord loves me!” then I dare to promise you that all the bitterness of the affliction will melt away. Because the peace of God will fill you with sweet contentment which surpasses understanding. No distress can withstand such Divine solace. No anguish can refuse the relief of this balm of Gilead. If all that happens to you can be traced directly or indirectly to the hand of your loving Lord then how gladly should you bear life’s burdens. Therefore how perfect should be the rest in which heart and mind should dwell!