Thursday, February 15, 2007

Through The Fire

Job 42:12 "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning"

Through his griefs Job came to his heritage. He was tried that his godliness might be confirmed. Are not my troubles intended to deepen my character and to robe me in graces I had little of before? I come to my glory through eclipses, tears, death. My ripest fruit grows against the roughest wall. Job's afflictions left him with higher conceptions of God and lowlier thoughts of himself. "Now," he cried, "mine eye seeth thee.

And if, through pain and loss, I feel God so near in His majesty that I bend low before Him and pray, "Thy will be done," I gain very much. God gave Job glimpses of the future glory. In those wearisome days and nights, he penetrated within the veil, and could say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Surely the latter end of Job was more blessed than the beginning. --In the Hour of Silence

"Trouble never comes to a man unless she brings a nugget of gold in her hand."

Apparent adversity will finally turn out to be the advantage of the right if we are only willing to keep on working and to wait patiently. How steadfastly the great victor souls have kept at their work, dauntless and unafraid! There are blessings which we cannot obtain if we cannot accept and endure suffering. There are joys that can come to us only through sorrow. There are revealings of Divine truth which we can get only when earth's lights have gone out. There are harvests which can grow only after the plowshare has done its work. - Selected

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; martyrs have put on their coronation robes glittering with fire, and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of Heaven. - Chapin

I shall know by the gleam and glitter
Of the golden chain you wear,
By your heart's calm strength in loving,
Of the fire you have had to bear.
Beat on, true heart, forever;
Shine bright, strong golden chain;
And bless the cleansing fire
And the furnace of living pain!
(Taken from Streams In The Desert devotional)

4 comments:

Eden said...

Thank you! I needed this!

CindyMae said...

I have been through some great trials in my life. God has brought me through them all and because of them I am a much stronger person but most of all and best of all, I have a stronger faith in God. He has made me a better person through my trials in life. I thank Him for that! I thank Him for allowing me to go through these times so that I may grow as a believer in Him and strengthen my relationship with Him.

Great post!

Anonymous said...

I just wanted you to know that although I have enjoyed the writings by other authors you have posted, I have missed your "style" of writing and your insight. I did so enjoy reading what the Lord laid on your heart and hearing how He had blessed you! Will you be writing again? I sure do hope so! The Lord gave you this talent and I would love to see you use it for His glory! :-)

Sis. Julie said...

Thank you for this post. It is hard to be thankful for and in our trials but I've learned to do both. I do however become weak from time to time and forget to be thankful...but God often reminds me of His precious promises while going through them..and it is then that I become thankful again.

I agree with Sis. Kate....I miss y'all's writing. Y'all have been a tremendous blessing through those things that God has given YOU to post. So just be encouraged that we miss y'all and your personal thoughts on things.

Love y'all and hope to see y'all at the Jewish Campmeeting!!