The Lord is Gracious - Spurgeon

1 Peter 2:3   if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.


You are depressed with heavy grief.  Things have gone amiss.  You do not prosper in business, or you are sick, or a loved one lies ill.  No wonder you feel exceedingly burdened.  Passing through this thick darkness, you will be strongly tempted to think badly of God and to blame Him for the troubles that surround you.  This will only make matters worse and increase your sin and your sorrow.

You are ready to despair.  You say, "There is no hope.  I am caught in a net. There is no escape."  You are ready to try some wrong method of help.  Satan will suggest dishonest, impure, or reckless courses that seem to offer some shadow of relief.


The Lord assures you that there is a far wiser course:  just turn to Him.   When He hears your cry, He will be gracious.  He will answer you.  There is help in your present trial.  Infinite wisdom  understands it, and infinite power can help you through it.  God can remove your suffering, or He can prevent the occurrence of what you dread. 

Or if in His divine wisdom He sees fit to lay the rod on, He can enable you to bear it and make it turn to your everlasting good.  Be well assured, "He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men" (Lam 3:33). There is a need for the heavy trial that weighs you down.  The Lord is not visiting you in wrath, for there is kindness in His severity.  Your strength, your comfort, and your ultimate deliverance will come from knowing that this is true.  Yield to God.  Trust Him in your affliction and you will obtain deliverance.