Through the Fire
Through trials, we can emerge stronger, with deeper character and a higher understanding of God, and ultimately be crowned with glory.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about how Job's later blessings exceeded his former ones, emphasizing that trials deepen our character and lead us to a closer relationship with God. Adversity can bring hidden blessings if we persevere and wait patiently, as seen in the lives of great victors who endured suffering. Suffering can produce strong souls, massive characters, and reveal Divine truths that are only visible in times of darkness.
Text
"So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:12).
Through his griefs Job came to his heritage. He was tried that his godliness might be confirmed. Are not my troubles intended to deepen my character and to robe me in graces I had little of before? I come to my glory through eclipses, tears, death. My ripest fruit grows against the roughest wall. Job's afflictions left him with higher conceptions of God and lowlier thoughts of himself. "Now," he cried, "mine eye seeth thee.
And if, through pain and loss, I feel God so near in His majesty that I bend low before Him and pray, "Thy will be done," I gain very much. God gave Job glimpses of the future glory. In those wearisome days and nights, he penetrated within the veil, and could say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Surely the latter end of Job was more blessed than the beginning.--In the Hour of Silence
"Trouble never comes to a man unless she brings a nugget of gold in her hand."
Apparent adversity will finally turn out to be the advantage of the right if we are only willing to keep on working and to wait patiently. How steadfastly the great victor souls have kept at their work, dauntless and unafraid! There are blessings which we cannot obtain if we cannot accept and endure suffering. There are joys that can come to us only through sorrow. There are revealings of Divine truth which we can get only when earth's lights have gone out. There are harvests which can grow only after the plowshare has done its work.--Selected
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; martyrs have put on their coronation robes glittering with fire, and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of Heaven. --Chapin
I shall know by the gleam and glitter
Of the golden chain you wear,
By your heart's calm strength in loving,
Of the fire you have had to bear.
Beat on, true heart, forever;
Shine bright, strong golden chain;
And bless the cleansing fire
And the furnace of living pain!
--Adelaide Proctor
Sermon Outline
- The Purpose of Trials
- The Benefits of Suffering
- The Outcome of Trials
- The strongest souls emerge from suffering
- Massive characters are seamed with scars
- Martyrs are crowned with glory
Key Quotes
“Trouble never comes to a man unless she brings a nugget of gold in her hand.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars;” — Charles E. Cowman
“I shall know by the gleam and glitter / Of the golden chain you wear,” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We can emerge stronger from our trials by keeping at our work and waiting patiently.
- We must be willing to accept and endure suffering to obtain blessings and joys.
- Our trials can help us have higher conceptions of God and lowlier thoughts of ourselves.