"VARIOUS TRIALS"

“VARIOUS TRIALS”

... In how many and various ways are we weaned from all here! One line of trial would not be sufficient; that would only make us bend to one side, as a tree does when it is exposed continually to the wind in one direction. The trying and testing must come from every side, so ^[p. 159] that there can be no space but upwards. So with Stephen, “He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven” (Acts 7: 55). “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1: 2). If the trial is only from one side, one may seek refuge in the shelter on another side: hence the trials are divers, that we may not seek for shelter on any side here, but find it all above with Christ. We often see a bird when it sees that there is danger, and that it must not continue pecking about, it takes to wing and flies off, and then its proper strength comes out; and so with us, the trying of our faith worketh endurance. When we say that any one stands the cold well, or stands heat well, we mean that such an one has constitutional strength to resist those untoward influences, and this constitutional strength is proved, and in fact disclosed, by the very trying of it. The strength would never have been known if it had not been subjected to the trial, but being known, there is the consciousness of possessing power to endure. If I have the power of Christ, I can endure, and the trial discloses that I have the power.

May you in spirit realise and enjoy the light streaming out of heaven from Christ; though all be dark and sorrowful around, there is a vista for the soul into the presence of Christ, so direct and so bright, that everything else is dull and insipid.