His Grace Is Sufficient in Meeting Mr. Jesus Christ

If none of God's saints were troubled and tried—we would not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has nowhere to lay his head, who yet can say, "Still will I trust in the Lord," or when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ; Oh! what honor it reflects on the gospel.

God's grace is illustrated and magnified—in the troubles and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good—and that out of apparent evils—a real blessing shall ultimately spring! They believe that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as He is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace.

There is a lighthouse out at sea—it is a calm night—I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it—and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit's work—if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters-we would not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it—we would not know how firm and secure it was.

The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, steadfast, unmoveable, "Calm mid the bewildering cry, confident of victory." He who would glorify his God—must set his heart upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord—unless his conflicts are many. If then, yours is a much

Charles Spurgeon, from "Morning and Evening"