Troubles to try our faith

Numbers 11:11 He prayed: I am your servant, LORD, so why are you doing this to me? What have I done to deserve this?

I wonder how many times us Christians have made this statement as in the above bible verse? As I read Charles Spurgeon’s morning devotional I think of the people that the God’s Love Outreach Ministry ministers to almost daily that might ask this question.

I was at DeGraff Skilled Nursing yesterday presenting a program called Seeds of Tradition from the Seeds for Christ series. One woman out of the (17) in attendance was so different than all the others. Her hands and feet were strapped together so that they could not freely move sitting in a bed chair. As I was singing I would look over at her now and then, and I asked the Lord to give her a special peace and comfort. As you read this devotional I have highlighted what I pray was this woman’s faith.

[Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,” is heaven-born faith.]

Now for this next part of the devotional I am not sure if I fully agree with Charles Spurgeon that the Lord afflicts anybody. I truly believe everything that was created was made to bring Him glory. Yep, you and me. Are you bringing Him glory today?

[The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for he is greatly glorified in the graces of his people, which are his own handiwork. When “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope,” the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which his vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy.]

Now here is an excellent statement;

[There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights.]

That woman that was in that bed chair was in her condition a shade to the others and myself in the room. Our loving Father was ministering to her spirit through myself His loyal servant. This made that picture just beautiful. This woman was hearing songs like "Jesus Loves Me", and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus!"

[Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.]

From God’s heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott