a mere housewife
Not your cup of tea
This was written by Mrs. Spurgeon -- I believe it was written after her husband passed away. The note in the back of the book says that 'for 16 years she was confined to her bed for long periods of time, rarely leaving her sick room. With that she experienced bouts of anxiety, fear and depression'. I thought the testimony she gives of her experience with debilitating illness is important. She testifies that there is a purpose in it -- to help us draw near to God -- to help us apprehend, so that we can rest more completely in, how very near He is.
'My Groaning is not hid from Thee.' -Psalm 38:9
One of the strongest and sweetest consolations God gives to His sick and afflicted ones, is the assurance that He not only "knows their sorrows," and tenderly sympathizes with them in their griefs, but that the appointment of the trial proceeds from Him, and that its whole course and continuance are watched by Him with infinite love and care. As a physician keeps his finger on a suffering patient's pulse, that he may know just the limit to which pain may be safely endured, so doth our God hold our right hand while we are passing through the furnaces of trial which lie on our road to Heaven, that He may support us through them, and bring us forth in due time to praise Him for His comforting and sustaining grace.
This text came as a precious cordial to my fainting spirit as I lately lay upon a bed of languishing. Awaking at a very early hour, one morning, during my recent illness, I found myself in an extremity of bodily pain and anguish. I tried to pray, but connected thought was an impossibility; groans and tears were the only expression I could give to my suffering, and even these were subdued and hushed lest the sleeping household should be disturbed. Then, some blessed, Heavenly ministrant whispered the sweet message to my soul, "Thy God knows all about thee, He sees thy grief, He hears thy groans, there is a telephone from thy lips to His heart, and every sigh is recorded there. No darkness, no distance, no dividing distress of any kind can separate thee from His constant care. He would spare thee every one of these sore pains, were it not that He sees they are working for thee some ultimate blessing. Yield thyself absolutely to His will and appointment, and thou wilt find peace even in pain."
So I praised Him with sighs, and in silence; and I felt that the tears which ran down my cheeks were all "put into His bottle," for He came very near to me, and "as one whom his mother comforteth," so did He comfort me. He did not then remove my pain, but He so strengthened me to endure it, and to rest patiently in Him, that I look back on those hours with joy, as a season of hallowed communion with my God.
To all the Lord's sorrowful and afflicted ones, whether their groans be on account of sin, or sickness, or insensibility of heart, I pray that my experience may be an encouragement. Do remember, dear friend, that the God you love, the Master you serve, is never indifferent to your grief, or unwilling to hear your cry.
"He takes the meaning of our tears,
The language of our groans."
David said truly, "Thou hast considered my trouble," and David's God is your God, with the added blessedness of the revelation of Jesus Christ the Saviour, whose Divine compassion is as infinite as His power. In time of trouble, the soul is greatly helped by cherishing great thoughts of God; they are sure to induce great longings after Him, great faith in Him, and great love towards Him; and thus, being filled with His fulness, we soar above and beyond all earthly distractions and disturbances which surround us, and seek to cast us down.
Pain, whether bodily, mental, or spiritual, is always unwelcome, and at first sight wears an aspect which alarms and discomforts us; but it is often angel in disguise, and many a time we have found that, underneath its terrible exterior, there are hidden the tender smiles of God's love, the gentle discipline of His teaching, and the sweet pity of His marvellous forbearance.
'My Groaning is not hid from Thee.' -Psalm 38:9
One of the strongest and sweetest consolations God gives to His sick and afflicted ones, is the assurance that He not only "knows their sorrows," and tenderly sympathizes with them in their griefs, but that the appointment of the trial proceeds from Him, and that its whole course and continuance are watched by Him with infinite love and care. As a physician keeps his finger on a suffering patient's pulse, that he may know just the limit to which pain may be safely endured, so doth our God hold our right hand while we are passing through the furnaces of trial which lie on our road to Heaven, that He may support us through them, and bring us forth in due time to praise Him for His comforting and sustaining grace.
This text came as a precious cordial to my fainting spirit as I lately lay upon a bed of languishing. Awaking at a very early hour, one morning, during my recent illness, I found myself in an extremity of bodily pain and anguish. I tried to pray, but connected thought was an impossibility; groans and tears were the only expression I could give to my suffering, and even these were subdued and hushed lest the sleeping household should be disturbed. Then, some blessed, Heavenly ministrant whispered the sweet message to my soul, "Thy God knows all about thee, He sees thy grief, He hears thy groans, there is a telephone from thy lips to His heart, and every sigh is recorded there. No darkness, no distance, no dividing distress of any kind can separate thee from His constant care. He would spare thee every one of these sore pains, were it not that He sees they are working for thee some ultimate blessing. Yield thyself absolutely to His will and appointment, and thou wilt find peace even in pain."
So I praised Him with sighs, and in silence; and I felt that the tears which ran down my cheeks were all "put into His bottle," for He came very near to me, and "as one whom his mother comforteth," so did He comfort me. He did not then remove my pain, but He so strengthened me to endure it, and to rest patiently in Him, that I look back on those hours with joy, as a season of hallowed communion with my God.
To all the Lord's sorrowful and afflicted ones, whether their groans be on account of sin, or sickness, or insensibility of heart, I pray that my experience may be an encouragement. Do remember, dear friend, that the God you love, the Master you serve, is never indifferent to your grief, or unwilling to hear your cry.
"He takes the meaning of our tears,
The language of our groans."
David said truly, "Thou hast considered my trouble," and David's God is your God, with the added blessedness of the revelation of Jesus Christ the Saviour, whose Divine compassion is as infinite as His power. In time of trouble, the soul is greatly helped by cherishing great thoughts of God; they are sure to induce great longings after Him, great faith in Him, and great love towards Him; and thus, being filled with His fulness, we soar above and beyond all earthly distractions and disturbances which surround us, and seek to cast us down.
Pain, whether bodily, mental, or spiritual, is always unwelcome, and at first sight wears an aspect which alarms and discomforts us; but it is often angel in disguise, and many a time we have found that, underneath its terrible exterior, there are hidden the tender smiles of God's love, the gentle discipline of His teaching, and the sweet pity of His marvellous forbearance.
