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Why These Afflictions?, September 29
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy
statutes.
Psalm 119:71
.
We must not think when we are afflicted that the anger of the Lord is
upon us. God brings us into trials in order that we may be drawn near to
Him. The psalmist says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the
Lord delivereth him out of them all” (
Psalm 34:19
). He does not desire us
to be under a cloud.... He does not desire us to go in anguish of spirit. We
are not to look at the thorns and the thistles in our experience. We are to
go into the garden of God’s Word and pluck the lilies and roses and the
fragrant pinks of His promises. Those who look upon the difficulties in
their experience will talk doubt and discouragement, for they do not behold
Jesus, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.
We should keep our minds upon the love, the mercy, and the gracious-
ness of our God.... It is no sign that Jesus has ceased to love us because
we experience doubts and discouragements. Affliction comes to us in the
providence of God in order that we may see that Christ is our helper, that
in Him is love and consolation. We may receive grace whereby we may
be overcomers and inherit the life that measures with the life of God. We
must have such an experience that when affliction comes upon us we shall
not depart from the faith....
By the hand of faith grasp the promises of God and be upon vantage
ground. Then you will be where Satan cannot come near and say, “God can-
not help you, because you have sinned and you cannot claim the promises.”
The adversary desires to have us think that the way to life is so difficult
that it will be impossible to reach the bliss of heaven. But God has placed
us in circumstances where the very best of our natures may be developed
and the highest faculties may be exercised. If we cultivate the good, the
objectionable tendencies will not gain the supremacy, and at last we shall
be accounted worthy to join the family above. If we desire to be saints
above we must be saints upon the earth
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38
Letter 97, 1895
.
286