Spurgeon's timeless advice for the believer:
[quote] The path of the Christian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and of storm. [/quote]
[quote] As the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day," yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At certain periods clouds cover the believer's sun, and he walks in darkness and sees no light. [/quote]
[quote] There are many who have rejoiced in the presence of God for a season; they have basked in the sunshine in the earlier stages of their Christian career; they have walked along the "green pastures" by the side of the "still waters," but suddenly they find the glorious sky is clouded; instead of the Land of Goshen they have to tread the sandy desert; in the place of sweet waters, they find troubled streams, bitter to their taste, and they say, "Surely, if I were a child of God, this would not happen [/quote]
[quote] The best of God's saints must drink the wormwood; the dearest of his children must bear the cross. [/quote]
[quote] Perhaps the Lord allotted you at first a smooth and unclouded path, because you were weak and timid. [/quote]
[quote] We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Christ. [/quote]
From my experience this is true- but honestly for me the worst parts are when my walk with God deteriates and that cloud is there where I can't see the light- honestly, for me it's worse than grief!
That is why I am always alert on my heart growing cold for Christ as my perpetual major sin kept me in this state for almost a decade until God delivered me!
Don't misunderstand I still sin like every human on the planet but there was a major sin I could not stop saying no to and I willingly commited it when it could have been avoided, this clouded my walk with God.
My point is- may we all pray against a cold heart in our walk with God and be wary of Satan's devices- if something is hindering us- remove it!
[quote] As the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day," yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At certain periods clouds cover the believer's sun, and he walks in darkness and sees no light. [/quote]
[quote] There are many who have rejoiced in the presence of God for a season; they have basked in the sunshine in the earlier stages of their Christian career; they have walked along the "green pastures" by the side of the "still waters," but suddenly they find the glorious sky is clouded; instead of the Land of Goshen they have to tread the sandy desert; in the place of sweet waters, they find troubled streams, bitter to their taste, and they say, "Surely, if I were a child of God, this would not happen [/quote]
[quote] The best of God's saints must drink the wormwood; the dearest of his children must bear the cross. [/quote]
[quote] Perhaps the Lord allotted you at first a smooth and unclouded path, because you were weak and timid. [/quote]
[quote] We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Christ. [/quote]
From my experience this is true- but honestly for me the worst parts are when my walk with God deteriates and that cloud is there where I can't see the light- honestly, for me it's worse than grief!
That is why I am always alert on my heart growing cold for Christ as my perpetual major sin kept me in this state for almost a decade until God delivered me!
Don't misunderstand I still sin like every human on the planet but there was a major sin I could not stop saying no to and I willingly commited it when it could have been avoided, this clouded my walk with God.
My point is- may we all pray against a cold heart in our walk with God and be wary of Satan's devices- if something is hindering us- remove it!
