"Good Grief #2"

The following are some encouraging quotes related to grief and suffering:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul…and forget not all of His benefits…” –Ps.103:1-2

“It is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength at all.” –G.K.C.

“When pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the Love of God more than all.” –C.S. Lewis

“He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.” –Aeschylus

“We know that by suffering is wrought steadfastness, and steadfastness is the proof of soundness, and proof gives rise to hope; and our hope cannot shame us in the day of trial; because the Love of God is shed forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us.” Suffering, steadfastness, soundness, hope, love-what great words these are.”
-Rom.5:3-5 (Conybeare’s)

“Everywhere a greater joy is preceded by a greater suffering.” –Saint Augustine

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the Glory that will be Revealed in us.” –Rom.8:18

“Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. HE came to fill it with HIS Presence.” –Paul Claudel

“One of the deepest lessons (you may learn), is that suffering is not something to be merely endured. Out of it we are to build a cathedral of heavenly beauty, and in that cathedral we bring God our deepest devotion. The pain which endures, the frustration which we never escape, the meager and tepid life which is to be ours always, these are the bricks which we are to build with never ending diligence and faithfulness, the loveliest worship, devotion and faith, which is permitted men to have.”-Paul W. Harrison (known as “the desert doctor” for his 38 years as a medical missionary in Arabia)

“Sorrow is one of the things that are lent, not given. A thing that is lent may be taken away; a thing that is given is not taken away. Joy is given; sorrow is lent. We are not our own, we are bought with a price, “and our sorrow is not our own” (Samuel Rutherford said this a long time ago), it is lent to us for just a little while that we may use it for eternal purposes. Then it will be taken away and everlasting joy will be our Father’s gift to us, and the Lord God will wipe away all tears from off all faces…
So let us use this “lent” thing to draw us nearer to the heart of Him Who was once a Man of Sorrows (He is not that now, but He does not forget the feeling of sorrow). Let us use it to make us more tender with others, as He was when on earth and is still, for He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” –Amy Carmichael

“They have been tested to the uttermost by affliction, yet their joy has throughout been over brimming: in spite of their poverty –their deep poverty –it has overflowed in a very opulence of unselfishness.” -2Cor.8:2 (Way)

“O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home. Under the shadow of Thy throne still may we dwell secure, Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.” –Isaac Watts

“HE is enough for us were the path ten thousand times more sad and difficult…..

AH! It is blessed to be at the feet of Jesus in our sorrows, for there divine light shines upon them, and though we may suffer, and even be oppressed with our trials, we shall not, while there, doubt His love…..
The soul is tested by afflictions as to how far self-will is active…God searches us. By this means we learn on the one hand what we are, and on the other what God is for us in His faithfulness and daily care. We are weaned from the world, and our eyes become better able to discern and appreciate what is heavenly…

Though thy way be long and dreary, Eagle strength HE will still renew; Garments fresh and foot unweary Tell how God hath brought thee through.” –J.N.D.

“HE is the Father of Mercies, God of all Comfort, the God of Patience and Hope”…and do not forget that discouragement is always from beneath; encouragement is always from above; God is the God of Encouragement (2Cor.1:3, Rom.15:5, 13).

“There is no pit so deep, but Christ is deeper still!” –Corrie Ten Boom