THE LORD KNOWN IN WEAKNESS
THE LORD KNOWN IN WEAKNESS
I do not think anything makes one feel so small as impaired health. I have been much interested in meditating on the sympathy of Christ. He uses our infirmity as an opportunity to make known the depths of His interest in us, thereby attaching our hearts to Himself so that we have gained in the pressure.
Each day, if we have a sensitive heart, we shall have some pressure from which God alone can deliver us.
[p. 489] Thus we learn dependence, not only to pray, but to lean upon God. Death seems to come close to each of us. Blessed be God that we see the dry way through it and our Saviour in triumph on the other side of it. I feel the Lord is teaching us more the reality of His presence with us now, but we know not how soon we shall be with Him. There is a great difference between going to Christ in our troubles, as to the best Physician and Friend, and knowing Him as the One who loves me best, the Bridegroom. In the former we turn to Him when anything is the matter; but in the latter, if we are true to it, we could never leave Him.
We are often reminded that we require diverse trials. Mr. Wigram used to say, that if we had only one trial we should grow into the habit of bearing it, but that we have to learn life and not merely habits, and therefore we are subjected to diverse trials. I am sure the great intent and best effect from every trial is to cast one on God. He has to be learnt in a new and a fuller way. As our blessed Lord stretched forth His hand and caught the sinking Peter and drew him to His own side, not only out of the water, but to the very ground on which He was Himself, may each of you so turn to Him and so experience His sympathy, that you may be able to thank Him, that though the affliction was sore, yet that the relief which He has vouchsafed has so endeared Himself to you that you have had songs in the night.
The end of the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. You must lose on the human side as you gain on the divine side.
When the Lord’s hand appears to be most against us is often the moment when He makes known His heart to us. This is a greater favour than His hand could render - infinitely greater, for it is Himself. When the rays of His love shine into your soul, then His love is perfected in you.