Sweet Honey Out of the Bitterest Herbs
God works for our good, using afflictions to teach us valuable lessons, refine us, and draw us closer to Christ.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that all afflictions and trials serve a divine purpose, working for the good of those who love God. He illustrates how, like a bee extracting honey from bitter herbs, believers can derive sweet lessons, obedience, and experiences from their hardships. Brooks encourages the faithful to view their struggles as opportunities for growth and deeper faith, noting that afflictions can lead to greater spiritual maturity and closeness to Christ. He uses various analogies to show that suffering often leads to the brightest displays of grace and strength in believers. Ultimately, he reassures that God's intention behind every trial is to refine and uplift His children.
Text
"And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him, who have been called
according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Consider that all your afflictions, troubles, and trials
shall work for your good. Why then should you fret,
fling, fume--considering God intends you good in all?
The bee sucks sweet honey out of the bitterest
herbs; so God will by afflictions teach His children to
suck sweet knowledge, sweet obedience, and sweet
experiences, sweet humility--out of all the bitter
afflictions and trials He exercises them with.
That scouring and rubbing, which frets others, shall
make them shine the brighter; and that weight which
keeps others crushed, shall but make them, like the
palm tree, grow better and higher; and that hammer
which knocks others all into pieces, shall but knock
them the nearer to Christ, the corner stone.
Stars shine brightest in the darkest night;
torches give the best light when beaten;
grapes yield most wine when most pressed;
spices smell sweetest when pounded;
vines are the better for bleeding;
gold looks the brighter for scouring;
juniper smells sweetest in the fire;
chamomile, the more you tread it the more you spread it;
the salamander lives best in the fire;
the Jews were best, when most afflicted.
Afflictions are the saints' best benefactors to heavenly
affections. Where afflictions hang heaviest--corruptions
hang loosest. And grace that is hidden in nature, as sweet
water in rose leaves, is then most fragrant when the fire
of affliction is put under to distill it out. Grace shines the
brighter for scouring, and is most glorious when it is most
clouded.
Sermon Outline
- God Works for Our Good
- Afflictions Teach Us Valuable Lessons
- Afflictions Refine and Purify Us
- Afflictions Draw Us Closer to Christ
- Scouring and rubbing make us shine brighter
- Weight and pressure make us grow stronger
- Hammering us closer to the corner stone
- Stars shine brightest in the darkest night
Key Quotes
“Stars shine brightest in the darkest night;” — Thomas Brooks
“The bee sucks sweet honey out of the bitterest herbs;” — Thomas Brooks
“Afflictions are the saints' best benefactors to heavenly affections.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Consider your afflictions as opportunities for growth and development.
- Remember that afflictions refine and purify us, making us shine brighter and grow stronger.
- Trust that God's purpose is to work for our good, even in the midst of trials and tribulations.