Much Tribulation

One of the "books" I've been reading for my times with God is Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon. I have books in quotations because I actually was able to find it online here.  I've been so blessed reading Spurgeon's words of encouragement.  One of the entries that I was greatly comforted with was on March 8 (morning).  All of us at one point or another will go through some sort of trial.  I know that my beloved and I have had our share.

Instead of me trying to retype what Spurgeon wrote, I'll just paste it.  I hope that it will encourage you as it did me.  So here it goes...

Acts 14:22

 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, 
"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

God’s people have their trials. It was never designed by God, when he chose his people, that they should be an untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, he included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our lot; they were predestinated for us in Christ’s last legacy. So surely as the stars are fashioned by his hands, and their orbits fixed by him, so surely are our trials allotted to us: he has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been without them. Mark the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had his trials, and by his faith under them, he became the “Father of the faithful.” Note well the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made vessels of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of affliction. It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King’s vessels of honour are distinguished. But although tribulation is thus the path of God’s children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them; they have his presence and sympathy to cheer them, his grace to support them, and his example to teach them how to endure; and when they reach “the kingdom,” it will more than make amends for the “much tribulation” through which they passed to enter it.