This would greatly calm our minds, and take the sting out of ten thousand little irritations!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to audio!  Download Audio

If we learn to see the hand of God in everything it will bring peace into the Christian's soul, even in the midst of the heaviest trials!

You will not find a greater sufferer than Job anywhere. He lost all of his children, his possessions and his health. Men, demons, elements--all conspired against him. But in all his trials, he saw the hand of his gracious God, and that composed his mind.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised!" Job 1:21

"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10

In the same way, Joseph saw God's hand in all the afflictions that befell him,
"It was not you who sent me here, but God!" Genesis 45:8

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good!" Genesis 50:20

Let us reply to the revilings of our malignant enemy, "The Lord has bidden him to curse me!" (2 Samuel 16:10-11) and that will be an end of all the anguish that his hostility has for a moment occasioned us.

Let us then, in all our trials, the smaller which occur in social or domestic life, as well as in those of a more overwhelming nature--habituate ourselves to see the Lord's hand; and to say, "He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes!" 1 Samuel 3:18. This would greatly calm our minds, and take the sting out of ten thousand little irritations, which often trouble us far more than heavier afflictions.

If we may but be purged from our sinful dross, and come out of the 'furnace' as purified gold--it should be deemed an ample compensation for all our troubles. It should make us thankfully to acknowledge, that God in love and faithfulness has afflicted us! Psalm 119:75

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, CONSIDER: God has made the one as well as the other." Ecclesiastes 7:14

"My times are in Your hand!" Psalm 31:15

"Be still, and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:10