Be of Good Cheer

Taken from daily devotional of Charles H Spurgeon (Revised and updated by Tim Chester)

“ Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.” Nahum 1:12

There is a limit to affliction. God sends it and removes it. Do you sigh and say, “When will it end?” Remember that our suffering will surely and finally end when this poor earthly life is over. Let us quietly wait and patiently endure the will of the Lord until it comes.

Meanwhile, our Father in heaven takes away the rod of discipline when his design in using it is fully served. When he has whipped away our folly, there will be no more blows. Or, if the affliction is sent to test us that our graces may glorify God, it will end when the Lord has made us bear witness to his praise. We would not wish the affliction to depart until God has gotten out of us all the honour which we can possibly yield to him.

There may be today a great calm. Who knows how soon those raging ways will give way to a sea of glass ( Rev 15:2), and the seabirds sit on the gentle waves? After a period of threshing, the flail is hung up and the wheat rests in the barn. Before long we may be just as happy as now we are sorrowful. It is not hard for the Lord to turn night into day. He that sends the clouds can easily clear the skies. So let us be of good cheer. Better days are ahead. Let us sing “Hallelujah” in anticipation.