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A great and inestimable mercy
(Letters of J. C. Philpot)
It is a great and inestimable mercy when our
various trials and troubles are made a means of
driving us to the Lord, as our only hope and help.
Those circumstances, outward or inward,
temporal or spiritual, which . . .
stir up an earnest spirit of prayer,
make us cease from the creature,
beat us out of all false refuges,
wean us from the world,
show us the vileness and deceitfulness of our hearts,
lead us up to Jesus, and make Him near, dear, and
precious--must be considered blessings.
It is true, troubles rarely come to us as such, or at
the time appear as such--no, they usually appear as
if they would utterly swallow us up! But we must
judge of them by their fruits and effects.
Job could not see the hand of God in his troubles and
afflictions. But it was made plain after he was brought
to abhor himself and repent in dust and ashes.
I am very sure, if we are in the right way, we shall find
it a rough way, and have many trials and troubles.
"God disciplines us for our good, that we may share
in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the
time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who
have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:10-11
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