More Encouragement For the Afflicted Believer

The stones which are cut out for a building are first hewn and squared. The godly are called "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5). God first hews and polishes them by affliction--that they may be fit for the heavenly building. The house of bondage prepares for the house not made with hands.

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Afflictions on the godly make them better--but afflictions on the wicked make them worse. The godly pray more (Psalm 130:1). The wicked blaspheme more, "Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God" (Rev. 16:9). 

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Affliction of the godly is like bruising spices, which are most sweet and fragrant.
Affliction of the wicked is like pounding weeds, which makes them more unsavory.

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It is one heart-quieting consideration, in all the afflictions that befall us, that God has a special hand in them: "The Almighty has afflicted me!" (Ruth 1:21).
Instruments can no more stir until God gives them a commission--than the axe can cut of itself without a hand. Job eyed God in his affliction--he does not say, "The Lord gave--and the devil took away;" but "The Lord gave--and the Lord has taken away." Whoever brings an affliction to us, it is God who sends it.

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Afflictions work for good. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted" (Psalm 119:71). Joseph's brethren throw him into a pit; afterwards they sell him; then he is cast into prison--yet all this worked for his good. "You thought evil against me--but God meant it unto good!"

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David says, "My times are in Your hand" (Psalm 31:15).
If our times were in our own hand--we would have deliverance too soon.
If they were in our enemy's hand--we would have deliverance too late.
But my times are in God's hand--and God's time is ever best.
Deliverance may tarry beyond our time; but it will not tarry beyond God's time.

~Thomas Watson, 1620-1686