netchaplain
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In physical suffering there is inability to enjoy or to do things which others do. But in sorrow everything has lost its enjoyment; there is a dark shadow on everything and everybody (best time for the “old man” to tempt—NC). I am cut off in sadness and affliction from the present scene (God eventually brings us out of the numbness of it all—NC)—but at the very moment when all is a blank here, when I have descended to the depths, I find the Lord Jesus beside me who makes known His heart to me where no one else could reach me (Christ makes it known that He is always with us—NC). “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”
It is then one is really softened, because the heart knows in its saddest moments, the love of the Lord Jesus; and hence, instead of being vexed and soured, you come out of it softened, because you have learned in your sorrow the greatest love; so that where the greatest darkness was, the greatest light has sprung up (because we eventually learn not to allow ourselves to be “troubled,” as in despair, regardless how deep the sorrow we might have (Jn 14:1, 27—NC).
In illness, there is more relief; or His power and goodness one learns and looks for; but in sorrow, where there is nothing to cheer here, He makes known to the heart the greatest cheer; so that the saddest moment connected with the earth becomes the happiest moment, because of His eventual comforting presence, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.
You will easily trace the effect of each on souls. In one, there is the knowledge of His hand and His power; they are receptive, and often depended upon. In the other, in addition, the heart refuses to bind itself to anything again here (no matter how bad you feel, restoration defiantly comes, and it’s just a matter of “patiently” waiting it out; and the more patient we are the stronger our faith is - Rom 12:12—NC).
The Lord Jesus came to Bethany when Mary and Martha were in the depths of their sorrow (due to their brother Lazarus’ illness and death—NC). That was the time for Him. He waited until things were at their worst. If He had not waited until the worst came, His ability to relieve from the worst would not have been known.
He comes to you now, in this moment, to make you know that He can comfort you in this, the saddest and darkest hour; but you must receive the rays of His comfort; you must not dwell on your sorrow, loss and bereavement—you are simply to turn to Him to make up the blank. Look to Him, and you will receive a comfort from His heart that will more than compensate you for your great loss and sorrow. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
— James Butler Stoney (1814-1897)
MJS daily devotional excerpt for June 6
Often the lapidary will polish the jewel with its own dust. Just so our Father makes use of the weak and beggarly element of our nature to produce the mirror-like luster in which His image is finally reflected for all to see. “They shall be Mine. . . in that day when I make up My jewels” (Malachi 3:17).
MJS daily devotional excerpt for June 7
“We find the greatest difficulty often in bringing our sorrow to God. How can I do so, some may be saying, as my sorrow is the fruit of my sin? How can I take it to God? If it was suffering for righteousness’ sake, then I would, but I am suffering for my sin; and can I, in the integrity of my heart towards God, take my sorrows to Him, knowing I deserve them?
“Yes: the Lord Jesus has been to God about them. This, then, is the ground on which I can go. There has been perfect atonement for all my sins; Christ has been judged for them. Will God judge us both? No; I go to Him on the ground of atonement, and God can justly meet me in all my sorrow, because Christ’s work has been so perfectly done.”
“The guilt which the throne detects, the altar removes. If in the light of the throne one object is seen, namely, ruined, guilty, undone self; then, in the light of the altar, one object is seen, namely, a full, precious, all-sufficient Christ. The remedy reaches to the full extent of the ruin, and the same light that reveals the one reveals the other likewise. This gives settled repose to the conscience. God Himself has provided a remedy for all ruin which the light of His throne has revealed.” - John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)
It is then one is really softened, because the heart knows in its saddest moments, the love of the Lord Jesus; and hence, instead of being vexed and soured, you come out of it softened, because you have learned in your sorrow the greatest love; so that where the greatest darkness was, the greatest light has sprung up (because we eventually learn not to allow ourselves to be “troubled,” as in despair, regardless how deep the sorrow we might have (Jn 14:1, 27—NC).
In illness, there is more relief; or His power and goodness one learns and looks for; but in sorrow, where there is nothing to cheer here, He makes known to the heart the greatest cheer; so that the saddest moment connected with the earth becomes the happiest moment, because of His eventual comforting presence, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.
You will easily trace the effect of each on souls. In one, there is the knowledge of His hand and His power; they are receptive, and often depended upon. In the other, in addition, the heart refuses to bind itself to anything again here (no matter how bad you feel, restoration defiantly comes, and it’s just a matter of “patiently” waiting it out; and the more patient we are the stronger our faith is - Rom 12:12—NC).
The Lord Jesus came to Bethany when Mary and Martha were in the depths of their sorrow (due to their brother Lazarus’ illness and death—NC). That was the time for Him. He waited until things were at their worst. If He had not waited until the worst came, His ability to relieve from the worst would not have been known.
He comes to you now, in this moment, to make you know that He can comfort you in this, the saddest and darkest hour; but you must receive the rays of His comfort; you must not dwell on your sorrow, loss and bereavement—you are simply to turn to Him to make up the blank. Look to Him, and you will receive a comfort from His heart that will more than compensate you for your great loss and sorrow. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
— James Butler Stoney (1814-1897)
MJS daily devotional excerpt for June 6
Often the lapidary will polish the jewel with its own dust. Just so our Father makes use of the weak and beggarly element of our nature to produce the mirror-like luster in which His image is finally reflected for all to see. “They shall be Mine. . . in that day when I make up My jewels” (Malachi 3:17).
MJS daily devotional excerpt for June 7
“We find the greatest difficulty often in bringing our sorrow to God. How can I do so, some may be saying, as my sorrow is the fruit of my sin? How can I take it to God? If it was suffering for righteousness’ sake, then I would, but I am suffering for my sin; and can I, in the integrity of my heart towards God, take my sorrows to Him, knowing I deserve them?
“Yes: the Lord Jesus has been to God about them. This, then, is the ground on which I can go. There has been perfect atonement for all my sins; Christ has been judged for them. Will God judge us both? No; I go to Him on the ground of atonement, and God can justly meet me in all my sorrow, because Christ’s work has been so perfectly done.”
“The guilt which the throne detects, the altar removes. If in the light of the throne one object is seen, namely, ruined, guilty, undone self; then, in the light of the altar, one object is seen, namely, a full, precious, all-sufficient Christ. The remedy reaches to the full extent of the ruin, and the same light that reveals the one reveals the other likewise. This gives settled repose to the conscience. God Himself has provided a remedy for all ruin which the light of His throne has revealed.” - John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)
