December 1, 2008

sorrow and sighing
to flee away for ever

“Earthly prosperity is no sign of the special love of Heaven;

nor are sorrow and care any mark of God's disfavor.
God's love is robust, and true,

and eager not for our comfort,

but for our lasting blessedness;

it is bent on achieving this,

and it is strong enough to bear misrepresentation

and rebuke in its attempts

to attune our spirits to higher music.

It therefore comes instructing us.
- Let us enter ourselves as pupils in the school of God's love.
- Let us lay aside our own notions of the course of study;
- Let us submit ourselves to be led and taught;
- Let us be prepared for any lessons

that may be given from the blackboard of sorrow;
- Let us be so assured of the inexhaustible tenacity of His love,

as to dare to trust Him, though He slay us.

And
- Let us look forward to that august moment

when He will give us a reason for all life's discipline,

with a smile that shall thrill our souls with ecstasy,

and constrain sorrow and sighing

to flee away for ever.”

- F. B. Meyer