How Little Moody Took the Whippings
God allows us to suffer to work all things for our good, and we should trust Him and draw near to Him during difficult times.
D.L. Moody shares a personal story from his childhood about how he learned to approach his mother during punishment, illustrating that drawing near to God during times of chastening can lighten our burdens. He emphasizes that while we may not understand our suffering now, God is working all things together for our good, just as a druggist carefully mixes ingredients to create the right medicine. Moody reassures us that even in sorrow, there is purpose and comfort in God's plan, reminding us that every trial can lead to growth and understanding.
Text
When I was a boy my mother used to send me outdoors to get a birch stick to whip me with; and at first I used to stand off from the rod as far as I could. But I soon found that the whipping hurt me more that way than any other; and so I went as near to my mother as I could, and found the punishment lighter. And so when God chastens us let us kiss the rod and draw as near to Him as we can. Some one has said that God sent one son into the world without sin, but no son without sorrow. We are not able to read the problem now, or to see just why we are affected; but by-and-by we shall know, and all will be made plain.
There is one passage of Scripture which has always been a comfort to me.
In the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul says, "All things work together for good to them that love God." A few years ago a little child of mine had the scarlet fever; and I went to the druggist's to get the prescription which the doctor had ordered, and told him to be sure and be very careful in making it up. And the druggist took down one bottle after another, in any one of which there might be what would be rank poison for my child; but he stirred them together and mixed them up, and made just the medicine which my child needed; and so God gives us a little adversity here, a little prosperity there, and works all for our good.
Sermon Outline
- God's Chastening
- God's Sovereignty
- God's Love
- God loves us and wants what is best for us
- God's ways are not our ways
Key Quotes
“And so when God chastens us let us kiss the rod and draw as near to Him as we can.” — D.L. Moody
“Some one has said that God sent one son into the world without sin, but no son without sorrow.” — D.L. Moody
“All things work together for good to them that love God.” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- We should trust God's sovereignty and know that He is working all things for our good.
- We should draw near to God and kiss the rod when we're going through hard times.
- We should trust that God loves us and wants what is best for us, even if it's hard to see right now.