you. should we not be prepared to
kiss it by Jared Waterbury from meditations and prayers 1840 and we know that God causes all
things to work together for good to those who love God to those
who are called according to his purpose Romans chapter 8 verse
28 The believer, when smarting under
the rod of temporal distress, is often ready to say with Jacob,
all these things are against me. Owing to the weakness of
his faith, he concludes that God has forgotten him. He forgets
that, whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every
son whom he receives. That His Lord once said, Here
on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. To sink down under
troubles, and conclude that there is no relief for us, is to distrust
our Father's care, and to doubt His everlasting love for us. It may not seem good to God,
who orders each event of our lives, to grant us the prosperity
which we naturally desire. He may discover in us so much
remaining depravity, developed in the forms of pride, sensuality,
or self-seeking, as to make it necessary to visit us with the
rod of correction. When that rod is intended to
extirpate these sins, should we not be prepared to kiss it? Is not God's rod designed to
wean us from the world and drive us more closely to the bosom
of eternal love? All things, including, of course,
these very trials and afflictions, God causes to work together for
our good. Are we sick and suffering in
body? Let us not despair. The affliction
shall work for our good. Relief will come in due time. Or, if the sickness be unto death,
God can make it conducive to a calm or triumphant departure. Are you poor and apprehensive
that your needs may not be supplied, O trust in your father's care,
who will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly?
Do enemies beset your path? God can change the bitterest
of them into friends, or can defend and deliver you from their
ire. And what, though all these afflictions
press upon the soul at once, even when the promise is not
nullified, it is made only the more precious. Doubt not that
His mercy is in your every trial and affliction. And always remember
that when heaven is attained, these sorrows will be felt no
more forever. PRAYER How precious, O God, are
your promises! They apply to us, your sinful
and suffering children, under all circumstances. You have declared
that all of us must be partakers of chastisement. You have promised
that the way to your abode is rough and thorny. Why, then,
should we fear to walk in it? Why wish to tread a smooth and
easy path? We desire that measure of faith
which shall recognize your direct agency in every event of our
lives. O Lord, whatever be our earthly
lot, joyous or sad, one sweet promise shall gild the darkest
hours of our existence. We shall be cheered by the thought
that you cause all things to work together for our good. And when we have done and suffered
your will on earth, we shall be admitted to your glory to
see your face and to sing your praises forever. Amen. you