Morning, May 22, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

” He led them also by a straight way.” — Psalm 107:7

A change in our experience often leads the anxious believer to inquire “Why is it happening this way with me?” I looked for light, but lo, darkness came; for peace, but behold, trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain stands firm; I shall never be moved. Lord, you do hide your face, and I am troubled. It was only yesterday that I could read my situation clearly; today my confidence is dimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday, I could climb to Mount Pisgah’s top, and view over the landscape, and rejoice with confidence in my future inheritance; today, my spirit has no hopes, but many fears; no joys, but much distress. Is this part of God’s plan with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?

Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of God’s method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith—they are waves that wash you further upon the rock—they are winds which drive your ship the more swiftly towards the desired haven. According to David’s words, so it might be said of you, “So he brings them to their desired haven.” By honor and dishonor, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty, by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these things is the life of your souls maintained, and by each of these are you helped on your way. Oh, do not think, believer, that your distresses are out of God’s plan; they are necessary parts of it. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Learn, then, even to “consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”

“O let my trembling soul be still,

And wait thy wise, thy holy will!

I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see,

Yet all is well since ruled by thee.”