View source for A great and inestimable mercy',

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<p>It is <strong>a great and inestimable mercy</strong> when our <br />
          various <strong>trials </strong>and <strong>troubles </strong>are made a means of <br />
          driving us to the Lord, as our only hope and help.<br />
          <br />
          Those circumstances, outward or inward, <br />
          temporal or spiritual, which . . .<br />
          stir up an earnest spirit of prayer,<br />
          make us cease from the creature,<br />
          beat us out of all false refuges,<br />
          wean us from the world,<br />
          show us the vileness and deceitfulness of our hearts,<br />
          lead us up to Jesus, and make Him near, dear, and<br />
          precious—must be considered <strong>blessings</strong>.<br />
          <br />
          It is true, <strong>troubles</strong> rarely come to us as such, or at<br />
          the time appear as such—no, they usually appear as<br />
          if they would utterly swallow us up! <strong>But we must<br />
            judge of them by their fruits and effects.<br />
            </strong><br />
          <strong>Job </strong>could not see the hand of God in his troubles and<br />
          afflictions. But it was made plain after he was brought<br />
          to abhor himself and repent in dust and ashes.<br />
          <br />
          I am very sure, if we are in the <strong>right </strong>way, we shall find<br />
          it a <strong>rough </strong>way, and have many trials and troubles.<br />
          <br />
          &quot;God disciplines us for our good, that we may share<br />
          in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the <br />
          time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a<br />
          harvest of righteousness and peace for those who<br />
          have been trained by it.&quot;  Hebrews 12:10-11