Seeing God through the darkness

     "... we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead... in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf...." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

       "It is not easy to say that God is love when everything that happens actually gives the lie to it. Everyone's soul represents some king of battlefield. The point for each one is whether we will hang in, as Job did, and say 'Though things look black, I will trust in God.'

      "It is very easy to trust in God when there is no difficulty, but that is not trust at all. It is simply letting the mind rest in a complacent mood; but when there is sickness in house, when there is trouble, when there is death, where is our trust in God?...

      "God has to deal with us on the death side as well as on the life side. It is all very well to know in theory that there are things we must not trust in, but another thing to know it in fact. When God deals with us on the death side, He puts the sentence of death on everything we should not trust in, and we have a miserable time until we learn never anymore to trust in it, never anymore to look anywhere else than to God. It sometimes happens that hardly a day passes without God saying, 'Don't trust there, that is dead.'"

    "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." 1 Peter 4:12-14