Answers to our prayers!
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You don't know what you are asking!" Matthew 20:22
Many things appear to be good—which are not really so. And many things are good in themselves—which are not good for us.
The Saviour's disciples often ask amiss, and they ask for what would really do them harm; and when they do so—He mercifully denies them.
It may often be said to us, "You don't know what you are asking!"
We ask perhaps for deeper sanctification, but in so doing—we are really asking for trials, losses, crosses and temptations!
We ask to be weaned from the world, but in so doing—we are really asking for troubles, difficulties, and perhaps bodily afflictions!
We ask for stronger faith, hope, and patience, but in so doing—we are really asking for clearer and more painful discoveries of the corruption of the heart, and more violent assaults from Satan than we have ever experienced!
It is very probable that we shall see by and by, that our severest trials and our bitterest sorrows—were just answers to our prayers!
We fix upon some object, we set our heart upon it, we pray earnestly that we may possess it—but we do not think of the painful process through which we must pass to arrive at it!