When we think of the word pill, we think of something that is annoying. Many times we forget that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28, 29.
The following quotations are taken from the book, Keeping the Heart, John Flavel, W. Baynes& Son, 1820, 35.
“Impatience makes the soul less fit to pray over its troubles, or receive the sense of that good which God intends by them.”
Our impatience tends to block the good that God intends.
“Affliction is a pill, which, being wrapped up in patience and quiet submission, may be easily swallowed. But discontent chews the pill, and so embitters the soul.”
I pray that each of you will not allow discontentment to embitter your souls and all patience and quiet submission make it easier to swallow.
“God throws away some comfort which He saw would hurt you, and you will throw away your peace after it.”
Could this be true for you? Have changes in your lifestyle caused you to throw away your “peace”?
The following true story demonstrates the love of God working to save a soul. He is also working to save your soul.
“Sister T loves this world. She is naturally selfish. She has suffered much with bodily infirmities. God permitted this affliction to come upon her, and yet would not permit Satan to take her life. God designed through the furnace of affliction to loosen her grasp upon earthly treasures. Through suffering alone could this be done. She is one of those whose systems have been poisoned by drugs. By taking these she has ignorantly made herself what she is; yet God did not suffer her life to be taken, but lengthened her years of probation and suffering that she might become sanctified through the truth, be purified, made white and tried, and, through the furnace of affliction, lose her dross, and become more precious than fine gold, even than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Testimonies to the Church, vol. 2, 184.
Has the love of the world become so deeply rooted in your hearts that it will require a severe trial to remove it? Are you ready to wrap up that “pill of affliction” in patience and quiet submission so that all the dross be removed and you can become more precious than fine gold? God loves you and He will do anything to get your attention and at last welcome you into His kingdom.
Father: Whatever the pill may be that I need, I know that Your grace is sufficient to help me through. Give me the patience needed to wrap around that pill of affliction and let quiet submission take over in my heart as You work a miracle of transformation in my life. I want to be part of Your kingdom now so that I may walk with You throughout eternity. Amen.