December 6

No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness.—Hebrews 12:11.

DO I realize that all the afflictions and trials of life are sent by God, and that each has its definite errand and object, and is directed by him where to go, whom to touch, what to do, and what end to accomplish? Do I receive the divine chastisements as coming from the heavenly Father? Do they draw me nearer to him? Do I find that they work in me submission, and patience, and experience, and hope, and trust, and so yield to me the peaceable fruits of righteousness?

The soul that is destined to have no other support but God himself, must pass through the strongest trials.

One great purpose of all affliction is to bring us to the everlasting arms, that we may know the strength and peace of finding them underneath us, and be held up, and lifted, and carried along by them. When we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in God.—PAYSON.

God sends earth's bitter, that heaven's sweet,

Earth's bitter o'er, may sweeter taste,

As Canaan did to Israel's feet,

After the desert waste.

Like them, before us, in our ways,

We view the fountains and the palms,

And drink, and raise our voice in praise,

Singing our thankful psalms.—FORD.