Trials

Pressed Into Living a Christ-life Outpoured – Lettie Cowman

Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.
Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.

– Lettie Cowman –

The Joy of Trials and Struggles – John Flavel

Have we not with joy observed how those very things that sense and reason tell us are opposite to our happiness have been the most blessed instruments to promote it! How has God blessed crosses to mortify corruption, wants to kill our wantonness, disappointments to wean us from the world! O we little think how comfortable those things will be in the review, which are so burdensome to present sense!

– John Flavel –
from The Mystery of Providence, 1678

Suffering a Little – Thomas Watson

“After ye have suffered a while” (1 Peter 5:10), or as it is in the Greek, “a little.” Our sufferings may be lasting, not everlasting.

– Thomas Watson –
1620-1686

Faith That is Tried – George Müller

If we, indeed, desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried, and, therefore, through the trial, be strengthened.

– George Müller –
from Answers to Prayer
1805-1898

God’s Special Providence – William Perkins

The consideration of God’s special providence should teach you to think of the presence of God as all-seeing and all-knowing, to seek his help, and also to believe that you are helped in all things, and finally that there is no danger so terrible but he is able and willing to deliver you from it, when it is fit.

– William Perkins –
from The Art of Prophesying, 1592