Even More Encouragement For the Afflicted Believer

Afflictions work for good, as they conform us to Christ. His life was a series of sufferings, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). He wept, and bled.
Was His head crowned with thorns--and do we think to be crowned with roses?
It is good to be like Christ--though it be by sufferings.

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God loves a thankful Christian. Job thanked God when He took all away: "The Lord has taken away--blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). Many will thank God when He gives, Job thanks Him when He takes away, because he knew God would work good out of it.

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Every bird can sing in spring--but some birds will sing in the dead of winter.
A Christian will bless God, not only in the spring--but in the winter of affliction.

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"His mercies are new every morning" (Lam. 3:23). Mercy comes in as constantly as the tide; nay, how many tides of mercy do we see in one day!
We never eat--but mercy carves every bit to us;
we never drink--but in the golden cup of mercy;
we never go abroad--but mercy guards our steps;
we never lie down in bed--but mercy draws the curtains of protection close around us.
Shall we receive so many good things at the hand of God--and shall we not receive evil? (Job 2:10)

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Our mercies far outweigh our afflictions.
For one affliction--we have a thousand mercies!
The sea of God's mercy swallows up a few drops of affliction!

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Affliction quickens the spirit of prayer. Jonah was asleep in the ship--but at prayer in the whale's belly! Perhaps in a time of health and prosperity we pray in a cold and formal manner, we put no coals to the incense; we scarcely minded our own prayers, and how should God mind them?
Then God sends some cross or other affliction to make us take hold of Him. "They poured out a prayer, when Your chastening hand was upon them!" (Isaiah 26:15); now their prayer pierced the heavens! In times of trouble, we pray earnestly and fervently.

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When God puts His children to the school of the cross, He deals with them tenderly.
He will not lay a giant's burden upon a child's back.
Nor will He stretch the strings of the instrument too much, lest they should break.
If God sees it good to strike with one hand--He will support with the other.
Either He will make our faith stronger--or render the yoke lighter.

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God loves His people, when He is giving the bitter drink of affliction.
God's rod and God's love--they both stand together.
Let us feel God's hand--so that we may have His heart.

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Afflictions add to the saints' glory.
The more the diamond is cut--the more it sparkles.
The heavier the saints' cross is--the heavier shall be their crown!

~Thomas Watson, 1620-1686