“Our all-sufficient God can give seasons of refreshment in the darkest hours, and break through the thickest clouds of outward affliction or distress.
To you it is given not only to believe in Jesus, but to suffer for his sake (Phil. 1:29): for so we do, not only when we are called to follow Him to imprisonment or death, but when He enables us to bear afflictive dispensations with due submission and patience.
Then He is glorified: then His grace and power are manifested in us.
The world, so far as they know our case, have a proof before them that our religion is not merely notional, but that there is a power and reality in it.
And the Lord’s people are encouraged by what they see of his faithfulness to ourselves.
And there are more eyes upon us still. We are a spectacle to the universe, to angels as well as to men.
Cheer up: the Lord has put you in your present trying situation, that you may have the fairer opportunity of adorning your profession of the Gospel.
And though you suffer much, He is able to make you abundant amends.
Nor need I remind you that He has suffered unspeakably more for you: He drank for your sake a cup of unmixed wrath, and only puts into your hand a cup of affliction mixed with many mercies.”
–John Newton, The Works of John Newton, Volume 2 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1988), 2: 191-192.
