Fortitude in Affliction
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believed” (
2 Timothy 1:12
). “God is faithful, who will not suffer you
to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (
1 Corinthians
10:13
). Through Jesus Christ I have come off more than conqueror,
and held the vantage ground.
I cannot read the purpose of God in my affliction, but He knows
what is best, and I will commit my soul, body, and spirit to Him as
unto my faithful Creator. “For I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto
Him against that day” (
2 Timothy 1:12
). If we educated and trained
our souls to have more faith, more love, greater patience, and a more
perfect trust in our heavenly Father, I know we would have more peace
and happiness day by day as we pass through the conflicts of this life.
The Lord is not pleased to have us fret and worry ourselves out of
the arms of Jesus. More is needed of the quiet waiting and watching
combined. We think unless we have feeling that we are not in the right
track, and we keep looking within for some sign befitting the occasion;
but the reckoning is not of feeling but of faith.
Walk by Faith
When we comply with the written Word, according to our best
knowledge, then we are to walk by faith, whether we feel any special
gratification or not. We dishonor God when we show we do not trust
Him after He has given us such wondrous evidences of His great love
in giving His only-begotten Son Jesus to die, our sacrifice, that we may
believe in Him, rest our hopes in Him, and trust in His Word without a
question or doubt.
Keep looking unto Jesus, offering up silent prayers in faith, taking
hold of His strength, whether you have any manifest feeling or not.
Go right forward as if every prayer offered was lodged in the throne
of God and responded to by the One whose promises never fail. Go
right along, singing and making melody to God in your hearts, even
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when depressed by a sense of weight and sadness. I tell you as one
who knows, light will come, joy will be ours, and the mists and clouds
will be rolled back. And we pass from the oppressive power of the
shadow and darkness into the clear sunshine of His presence.