Reflections on trial and tragedy brought to mind these words from Charles Spurgeon, recorded in Beside Still Waters. This is one of my favorites, based on Psalm 121:3 (pg. 107),

“God is everywhere, in every place, in every time. His eyes never sleep. His hands never rest. He is in the city traffic as well as the wilderness.

“It is a great comfort to discern God in all our trials. Do not say that these are evil times—no times are evil when God is there. His presence scatters all that is harmful. Do not think that evil circumstances have happened. They may seem greatly evil, but these clouds will break in blessings on your head. If you can see that your troubles are sent from God, it will change them from wasps that sting to bees that gather honey.

“A present God! I cannot suggest a theme to make you more courageous. You will find it exceedingly helpful and comforting to discover God in the unimportant things. If we had a God for only great things and not also for little things, we would be miserable. He that wings an angel, guides a sparrow. He that rolls a world along, molds a tear and marks its track when it trickles from your eye.

“God is in the motion of a grain of dust as much as He is in the revolutions of the planets. god is in the sparking of a firefly as truly as He is in the flaming comet. God is in your home, in your bedroom, in your office, and in your shop. Recognize God in every little thing.

” ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone’ (Ps. 91:11-12). Why? Lest you fall from a mountain peak?  No, lest you dash your foot against a stone. A great Providence keeps us safe.”

Categories: five15 blog