Afflicted

Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,
The years in which we have seen evil.
~ Psalms 90:15 (NKJV)

For the Lord will not cast off forever.
Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
~ Lamentations 3:31-33 (NKJV)

At least one Builidng His Body follower is a fan of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892). I again present Spurgeon as a "guest blogger," offering his commentary on Psalms 90:15.

None can gladden the heart as thou canst, O Lord, therefore as thou hast made us sad be pleased to make us glad. Fill the other scale. Proportion thy dispensations. Give us the lamb, since thou has sent us the bitter herbs. Make our days as long as our nights.

The prayer is original, childlike, and full of meaning; it is moreover based upon a great principle in providential goodness, by which, the Lord puts the good over against the evil in due measure. Great trial enables us to bear great joy, and may be regarded as the herald of extraordinary grace. God's dealings are according to scale; small lives are small throughout; and great histories are great both in sorrow and happiness. Where there are high hills there are also deep valleys....

If we have fierce afflictions we may look for overflowing delights, and our faith may boldly ask for them. God who is great in justice when he chastens will not be little in mercy when he blesses, he will be great all through; let us appeal to him with unstaggering faith.

Father, You know the weight of what You place upon our shoulders. Your love does not load us with more than You give us the grace to bear. Please increase our faith to trust You through great trials—and trivial annoyances. Let us not forget to thank You for the multitude of Your mercies.

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