Because we live in a fallen, sinful world, we can expect to experience the sorrows of this life. Job said, “man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1); and believe me, Job had his fair share. But Job turned out all right didn’t he, for “the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (42:12). I read somewhere that “God never uses anyone greatly until He has wounded him deeply.” Joseph is a good example of this, for the Lord used him to bless, not only his brothers, but the whole land of Egypt in a time of famine. Joseph came to understand the reason for his sufferings, and he said to his brothers, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good … to save many people alive” (Gen. 50:20). I have always been moved by that expression concerning Joseph’s sufferings: “they hurt his feet with fetters” (Ps. 105:18). Perhaps Joseph bore those marks for the rest of his life. It reminds me of the Lord Jesus, who said, “They pierced My hands and My feet” (22:16). Those scars He has carried with Him into glory.

David in his afflictions, spoke of the comfort he derived from the Scriptures (119:49, 50). He also prayed: “Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort” (119:76). Paul wrote to the Philippians, “if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love” (Phil. 2:1). He related how, after having come into Macedonia, “our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Cor. 7:5, 6). God comforts us and is ever mindful of our afflictions. Paul further wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). This comfort of God is in relation to the present.