Do Not Give Way

1 Peter 1:6-9

[6] In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, [9] obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

He Knows the Elastic Limit

“Wind means stress and strain. “The elastic limit” of each kind of tree is known to the engineer, and he deals accordingly with his timber. So does the Creator of the trees, the Commander of the winds, know “the elastic limit” of His several trees. And He knows the weight of the winds. “He looketh to the ends of the earth, to make the weight for the winds.”

Nothing but the courageous Love of God is brave enough to trust the soul of man to endure as seeing Him who is invisible; and nothing but the grace of God can carry that soul through in triumph.

There is a curious comfort in remembering that the Father depends upon His child not to give way. It is inspiring to be trusted with a hard thing. You never asked for summer breezes to blow upon your tree. It is enough that you are not alone upon the hill.

There are certain winds of adversity which can wither every green thing and tear up every rooted thing (unless there be this fortitude), and there is no choice about whether those winds shall blow or not: “For the love of God thou oughtest to suffer all things, labors, and sorrows, temptations, vexations, anxieties, necessities, infirmities, wrongs, obloquies, reprehensions, humiliations, confusions, corrections, and despites. These things helpeth to virtue, these prove the knight of Christ, these make the heavenly crown.””