Tag: Anvil

Not one grain too much!

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Grace Gems Whiteby Grace Gems

Henry Ward Beecher, 1813-1887

“Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” Hebrews 12:7

Affliction comes to us all: not to make us sad–but sober; not to make us sorry–but to make us wise; not to impoverish us–but to enrich us!

We are always in the furnace–or on the anvil. By trials, God is shaping us for nobler things. Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things!

No physician ever weighed out medicine to his patients with half so much care and exactness, as God weighs out every trial to His children. Not one grain too much, does He ever permit to be put in the scale!

The troubles and worries of life may be as stumbling blocks in our way–or we may make them stepping-stones to a nobler character and to Heaven.

“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but 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

by Grace Gems

His Work Is Yet On The Anvil!

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Charles Spurgeonby Charles Spurgeon

“Flowers from a Puritan’s Garden” 1883

God many times works contrary to outward likelihoods. When the toll of bricks was doubled for the Hebrew slaves–who would look for deliverance? As the sun going back ten degrees on the sundial was a sign of Hezekiah’s recovery–so divine providence is to be read backward. Joseph was made a slave–that he might be made the deliverer of the Hebrew people.

Thus have we found sickness work for our spiritual health–and poverty promote our spiritual wealth. Our worst days, have turned out to be our best days; and our low estate has lifted us on high. When storms come we may welcome them, for they bring blessing on their wings. But when our calm is long and deep, we ought to be on our watch, lest stagnation and disease should come of it!

Our adorable Redeemer bends all things to His gracious purpose! To judge His wise proceedings, is folly and ingratitude. What can we know? Especially what can we know of His design and purpose–while His work is yet on the anvil? Our judgments at their best, are only moderated foolishness.

We are neither prophets nor sons of prophets; and if we were wise, we would no more speculate upon the results of His divine operations–but firmly believe and patiently wait until the providence comes to bloom, and God becomes His own interpreter!

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28

by Charles Spurgeon