Blessings in Difficulties

This morning I turned to my usual devotional reading- Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" It is challenging to say the least! We so often pray for the things and the circumstances we think we need. God knows better. As you look at what's happening in your life today don't ask "How do I feel about it" but instead ask "What is God doing through it." Every blessing.

S Murphy


"In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved."
-- Psalms 30:6

"Moab settled on his lees, he hath not been emptied from vessel to
vessel." Give a man wealth; let his ships bring home continually rich
freights; let the winds and waves appear to be his servants to bear his
vessels across the bosom of the mighty deep; let his lands yield
abundantly: let the weather be propitious to his crops; let
uninterrupted success attend him; let him stand among men as a
successful merchant; let him enjoy continued health; allow him with
braced nerve and brilliant eye to march through the world, and live
happily; give him the buoyant spirit; let him have the song perpetually
on his lips; let his eye be ever sparkling with joy-and the natural
consequence of such an easy state to any man, let him be the best
Christian who ever breathed, will be presumption; even David said, "I
shall never be moved;" and we are not better than David, nor half so
good. Brother, beware of the smooth places of the way; if you are
treading them, or if the way be rough, thank God for it. If God should
always rock us in the cradle of prosperity; if we were always dandled
on the knees of fortune; if we had not some stain on the alabaster
pillar; if there were not a few clouds in the sky; if we had not some
bitter drops in the wine of this life, we should become intoxicated
with pleasure, we should dream "we stand;" and stand we should, but it
would be upon a pinnacle; like the man asleep upon the mast, each
moment we should be in jeopardy.

We bless God, then, for our afflictions; we thank him for our changes;
we extol his name for losses of property; for we feel that had he not
chastened us thus, we might have become too secure. Continued worldly
prosperity is a fiery trial.

"Afflictions, though they seem severe,
In mercy oft are sent."