“It is then, we say, in the successive stages of his experience, that the believer sees more distinctly, and adores more profoundly, and grasps more firmly, the finished righteousness of Christ. And what is the school in which he learns his nothingness, his poverty, his utter destitution? The school of deep and sanctified affliction. In no other school is it learned, and under no other teacher but God. Here his high thoughts are brought low, and the Lord alone is exalted.” SchoolChristLordPovertyTeacherStageLowsFinishedBelieverRighteousnessNothingnessAdoreAfflictionExalted Author:Octavius Winslow
“The portion of some is to have their afflictions by drops, now one drop and then another; but the dregs of the cup, the wine of astonishment, like a sweeping rain that leaveth no food, did the Lord prepare to be my portion.” SufferingLordRainWineCupsPortionsAfflictionSweepingAstonishmentDregs Book:Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson Source: Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
“Do not be despondent when fighting against the incorporeal enemy, but even in the midst of your afflictions and oppression praise the Lord, Who has found you worthy to suffer for Him, by struggling against the subtlety of the serpent, and to be wounded for Him at every hour; for had you not lived piously, and endeavored to become united to God, the enemy would not have attacked and tormented you.” ChristianSufferingFightingFoundHoursUnitedLordEnemyStrugglePraiseWorthyOppressionMidstWoundedAfflictionSubtletySerpentFound YouDespondentPraise The Lord Author:John of Kronstadt
“The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ-whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul-is available for every affliction in mortality.” JesusChristHealingLordJesus ChristAdversityEndureBurdenAvailableRemoveMortalityAfflictionApostlesLord Jesus ChristApostle Paul Author:Dallin H. Oaks
“Our personal afflictions involve the living God; the only way in which Satan can persecute or afflict God is through attacking the people of God. The only way we can have personal victory in the midst of these flying arrows raining down on us is to call upon the Lord for help. It is His strength, supplied to us in our weakness, that makes victory after victory possible.” PeopleWayHelpingReligiousLordVictoryWeaknessRainEncouragementFlyingSatanMidstAfflictionArrowsAttackingPersonal Victory Book:Affliction Source: Affliction
“There is as much in our Lord's pantry as will satisfy all his children and as much wine in his cellar as will quench all their thirst. Hunger on, for there is meat in hungering for Christ; go never from him, but seek him who is yet pleased with the importunity of hungry souls until he fills you; if he delays, yet do not go away, even if you faint at his feet.” IfsChildrenSoulSufferingChristLordFeetWineHungerHungryMeatGoing AwayThirstAfflictionDelayOur LordCellarsQuenchPantry Author:Samuel Rutherford
“You will not get to steal quietly into heaven, into Christ's company, without a conflict and a cross. I find crosses to be Christ's carved work that he marks out for us and that with crosses he portraits us to his own image, cutting away pieces of our ill and corruption. Lord cut - Lord carve - Lord wound - Lord do anything that may perfect thy Father's image in us and make us ready for glory.” MaySufferingFatherHeavenChristPerfectCompanyLordPiecesCuttingReadyConflictGloryCrossesMarkIllCorruptionWoundsStealingPortraitsAffliction Author:Samuel Rutherford
“It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire. Who know how needful winnowing is to us and what dross we have before we enter the kingdom of God? So narrow is the entry to heaven that our knots, lumps of pride, self-love, idol-love, and world-love must be hammered off us, that we may stoop low and creep through into that narrow entry.” KnowsWorldMaySelfSufferingHeavenLordKindnessKnow HowFirePrideSelf LoveLowsKingdomsIdolsAfflictionKingdom Of GodCreepsEntryKnotsLumpsStoopsScumWorld LoveHammeredDross Author:Samuel Rutherford
“O, what I owe to the file, the hammer, and the furnace of the Lord Jesus! I know that he is no idle husbandman - he purposes a crop.” KnowsPurposeSufferingJesusLordIdleAfflictionHammersFilesCropsFurnaces Author:Samuel Rutherford
“Whoever is truly humbled — will not be easily angry, nor harsh or critical of others. He will be compassionate and tender to the infirmities of his fellow-sinners, knowing that if there is a difference — it is grace alone which has made it! He knows that he has the seeds of every evil in his own heart. And under all trials and afflictions — he will look to the hand of the Lord, and lay his mouth in the dust, acknowledging that he suffers much less than his iniquities have deserved.” IfsKnowsLooksHeartMadeHandsSufferingEvilDifferencesLordKnowingGraceMouthsFellowsAngryLaysCriticalSeedsTrialsDustMade ItSinnerCompassionateHarshAfflictionInfirmityIniquity Author:John Newton
“I believe the hard heartest, most cross grained and most unloving Christians in all the world are those who have not had much trouble in their life. And those that are the most sympathizing, loving and Christlike are generally those who have the most affliction. The worse thing that can happen to any of us is to have a path made too smooth. One of the greatest blessings the Lord ever gave us was a cross.” WorldBelieveMadeHardHappensChristianI BelieveLordPathTroubleBlessingCrossesSmoothAfflictionGreatest Blessings Author:Charles Spurgeon
“There are many who say to the Lord, "I give myself wholly to Thee, without any reserve," but there are few who embrace the practice of this abandonment, which consists in receiving with a certain indifference every sort of event, as it happens in conformity with Divine Providence, as well afflictions as consolations, contempt and reproaches as honor and glory.” GivingWellsHappensCertainLordPracticeEventsDivineHonorGloryEmbraceTheeIndifferenceConformityContemptReceivingProvidenceReservesAfflictionConsolationAbandonmentReproachDivine Providence Author:Saint Francis de Sales
“We are on the cusp of the emergence of a company of hidden men and women who with all faith and patience have been enduring great struggles and dealings, being processed by the Lord and filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. These are not those who seek a reputation for themselves, their passion is His glory and giving Him the church He has longed for. May God grant us all the heart of apostolic fathering and mothering that can release His power in the earth. Zion is once again in travail to bring forth her children.” MenGivingHeartMayChildrenHas BeensEarthPassionChristChurchCompanyLordStruggleGloryMen And WomenEndureReputationReleaseGrantsLackingAfflictionFillingEmergenceMotheringDealingsApostolicFatheringZionFilling UpCuspFaith And Patience Author:Mark Chironna