the Third Week after Easter
Click to donate today!
Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Psalms 42:10; Psalms 43:2. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations 1 Peter 1:6. Cfr. Hebrews 12:11, and 2 Corinthians 7:10. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 30:5.
The first experiences of grace make the heart so happy that it thinks itself translated into heaven and deems it impossible ever again to become sorrowful. It feels only joy in Jesus and with Jesus, and regards all else as nothing. Every affliction seems sweet and pleasant. The heart rejoices to bear it for Jesus’ sake. But soon there is a change and the heart will not submit to it. The poor heart is not yet capable of perfect, unceasing joy. Many things still lie hidden in it which first must be driven out by afflictions. There is yet much impurity in its joy, that can be melted only by the heat of tribulation as dross is separated from gold. But if the soul surrender in a child-like manner to the Purifier, every affliction generates a new and greater joy. In joy one does not know himself but regards himself as perfectly holy and good. Afflictions and temptations unveil the evil depths and give us an insight into our inner man and we discover things which we would never have found if the Lord had not enlightened our hearts by the light of the cross. No light is purer and clearer than the light of the cross, the heat of tribulation. By it we see that which we do not see in broad daylight. During temptation it seems as if all lights were gone out, and all were darkness; and yet we see more by this twilight than by the light of joy.
Be it with me as He is willing.
Whose mercy is a boundless sea;
May He Himself my heart be stilling.
That this may ne’er forgotten be;
Then it will rest in joy and woe.
On mercy, while it beats below.
