Softening by Octavius Winslow

Evening Thoughts

For God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me. Job 23.16

The hour of affliction is the hour of softening, the hardness of the heart yields, the callousness of the spirit gives way, the affections become tender, conscience is more susceptible. The hour of softening is the season of holy abstraction, of meditation, of prayer, of withdrawalment from the world and from creature delights, while the soul is more closely shut in with God.

The heart, now emptied, humbled, and softened, is prepared for the work of the Spirit, and what an impression is then made! What discoveries of God's love to the soul! What enlarged views of the personal glory of Christ, of the infinite perfection of His work, of the preciousness of the atoning sacrifice, of the hatefulness of sin, and of the beauty of holiness!