I do so enjoy inspiration and try so hard to walk in it every single day. We all know that our greatest inspiration is our sweet Lord, Jesus. So here I go again posting light inspired by the light of the Lord.
Out of Great Tribulation
No words can express how much the world owes to sorrow. Most of Psalms were born in a wilderness. Most of the Epistles were written in a prison. The greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers have all passed through fire. The greatest poets have "learned in suffering what they taught in song." In bonds Bunyan lived the allegory that he afterwards indited, and we may thank Bedford Jail for the "Pilgrim's Progress."
Take comfort afflicted Christians! When God is about to make pre-eminent use of a man, He puts him in the fire.
~Macdonald~
~Macdonald~
Burdens
I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole at once. He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry today, and then another, which we are to carry tomorrow, and so on. This we might easily manage, if we would only take the burden appointed for us each day; but we choose to increase our troubles by carrying yesterday's stick over and over again today, and adding tomorrow's burden to our load, before we are required to bear it.
~John Newton~
~John Newton~
The Shepherd
The shepherd knows what pastures are best for His sheep, and they must not question nor doubt, but trustingly follow Him. Perhaps He sees that the best pastures for some of us are to be found in the midst of opposition or earthly trials. If He leads you there you may be sure they are green for you, and you will grow and be made strong by feeding there. Perhaps He sees that the best waters for you to walk beside will be raging waves of trouble and sorrow. If this should be the case, He will make them still waters for you, and you must go and lie down beside them and let them have all their blessed influences upon you.
~H.W. Smith~
~H.W. Smith~
. It's wonderful to be reminded that we're 'pressed but not crushed; persecuted not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed'. We're truly promised that even though things will get hard, there will be sunlight after the rain. 
