“Our heavenly Father often sends troubles to test our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. It’s a poor faith that can only trust God when friends are true, the body healthy, and work or business prospers. True faith holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith that can say in the worst trouble, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,” is heaven-born faith. The Lord is greatly glorified in the virtues of His people, which are His own handiwork. When “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope,” the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues… There must be night to bring out the beauty of the day. We would not be so supremely blessed in heaven if we hadn’t known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth. Peace will be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil. The recollections of past sufferings will enhance the bliss of the glorified.”

Charles H. Spurgeon

Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning By Morning, October 7