O what a sweet and pleasant life you would have!

Today’s Puritan AUDIO Devotional:

“For His Poor Rachel!” byRuth Bryan, precious.
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O what a sweet and pleasant life you would have!

(Thomas Boston)

“Affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground!”Job 5:6

“I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things!” Isaiah 45:7

“The LORD brings death, and makes alive; He brings down to the grave, and raises up.
 The LORD sends poverty, and wealth; He humbles, and He exalts.” 1 Samuel 2:6-7

Affliction does not rise out of the dust or come to us by chance.

It is the Lord who sends affliction, and we should own and reverence His hand in it.

Let the people of God comfort themselves at all times by the doctrine of divine sovereignty. Amidst whatever befalls them, they should rest quietly and submissively in the bosom of God, considering that whatever comes to pass proceeds from the decree of their gracious Friend and reconciled Father, who knows what is best for them, and will make all things work together for their good.

O what a sweet and pleasant life you would have under the heaviest pressures of affliction, and what heavenly serenity and tranquility of mind you would enjoy–if you would cheerfully acquiesce in the good will and pleasure of God, and embrace every dispensation, however sharp it may be, because it is determined and appointed for you by the eternal counsel of His will!

See here the evil of murmuring and complaining at our lot in the world.How apt are you to quarrel with God, as if He were in the wrong when His dealings with you, and not according to your own desires and wishes!

You demand a reason, and call God to an account: “Why am I thus? Why so much afflicted and distressed? Why so long afflicted? Why such a severe affliction rather than a lighter one? Why am I so poor, needy and afflicted?”

Thus your hearts rise up against God. But you should remember that this is to defame the counsels of infinite wisdom, as if God had not ordered your affairs wisely enough in His eternal counsel.

Our attitude should be that of Job’s, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job 1:21

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If you desire additional reading, we have posted Arthur Pink’s insightful 2 page article, “Sleeping“.

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