Taken from L.B. Cowman’s “Streams in the Desert,” Zondervan Updated Edition
“You have shown your people desperate times,” (Psalm 60:3).
I have always been glad that the psalmist said to God that certain times are desperate or difficult. Make no mistake about it, there are difficult times in life.
This summer someone gave me some beautiful pink flowers, and as I took them, I asked, “What kind are they?” My friend answered, “They are rock flowers. They grow and bloom only on rocks where you can see no soil.” Then I thought of God’s flowers growing in desperate times and hard places, and I somehow feel that He may have a certain tenderness for His “rock flowers” that He may not have for His lilies and roses. —Margaret Bottome
The trials of life are sent to make us, not break us. Financial troubles may destroy a person’s business but build up his character. And a direct blow to the outer person may be the greatest blessing possible to the inner person. So if God places or allows anything difficult in our lives, we can be sure that the real danger or trouble will be what we will lose if we run or rebel against it. —Maltbie D. Babcock
Heroes are forged on anvils hot with pain,
And splendid courage comes but with the test.
Some natures ripen and some natures bloom
Only on blood-wet soil, some souls prove great
Only in moments dark with death and doom.
God finds His best soldiers on the mountain of affliction.