Taken from Mrs. Charles E. Cowman’s “Streams in the Desert,” Vol. Two
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” (Psalm 30:5).
Paul did not take pleasure in infirmities. He tells us that he was anxious to get rid of the infirmity that clouded his life. But when he saw that God supplied the grace he began to love the supply better than freedom from infirmity.
He saw that it was better to have darkness with stars brought out by it, than all sunshine and no stars; that the cold winds of winter are as necessary for the world’s development as the cheerful warmth of spring and summer; that the mantle of snow is as good for earth as its mantle of grass and flowers. But for the snow mantle the mantle of flowers might not be. When a mean learns that God’s strength is perfected through his infirmity, necessities, persecutions, and distresses, he will by and by begin to welcome them as an angel sent from heaven to minister to him. —A.C. Dixon
Any man can sing by day; but only he whose heart has been tuned by the gracious hand of Jehovah can sing in the darkness. The things of earth may satisfy for the hours of prosperity; but only the peace of God can give gladness in the darkness of adversity. God gives joy in sorrow; and when the sad one sings through his tears, then the Lord comes out to him with new and more tender assurances, so that by his very hymn he is made more gladsome. That which is born of trust rises in rapture. —William M. Taylor