Morning, February 12
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
2 Corinthians 1:5
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ."
2 Corinthians 1:5
There is a blessed proportion. The Ruler of Providence bears a pair of
scales--in this side he puts his people's trials, and in that he puts
their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty, you will
always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition; and
when the scale of trials is full, you will find the scale of
consolation just as heavy. When the black clouds gather most, the light
is the more brightly revealed to us. When the night lowers and the
tempest is coming on, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to his
crew. It is a blessed thing, that when we are most cast down, then it
is that we are most lifted up by the consolations of the Spirit. One
reason is, because trials make more room for consolation. Great hearts
can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the
reservoir of comfort deeper, and makes more room for consolation. God
comes into our heart--he finds it full--he begins to break our comforts
and to make it empty; then there is more room for grace. The humbler a
man lies, the more comfort he will always have, because he will be more
fitted to receive it. Another reason why we are often most happy in our
troubles, is this--then we have the closest dealings with God. When the
barn is full, man can live without God: when the purse is bursting with
gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But once take our gourds
away, and we want our God; once cleanse the idols out of the house,
then we are compelled to honour Jehovah. "Out of the depths have I
cried unto thee, O Lord." There is no cry so good as that which comes
from the bottom of the mountains; no prayer half so hearty as that
which comes up from the depths of the soul, through deep trials and
afflictions. Hence they bring us to God, and we are happier; for
nearness to God is happiness. Come, troubled believer, fret not over
your heavy troubles, for they are the heralds of weighty mercies.