Thank God that never does He permit a cloud so dark but behind it is the light; and through the cloud streams the mercies; and from the cloud, descend plentiful and abounding blessings.
I am confident that national humiliation, Church trials, and personal adversities are all God’s measures for the purification of those with whom He deals, and for the advancement of His own sovereign glory.
The most stupendous crime that ever darkened God’s Heaven, was committed between the sixth and ninth hour on Calvary; yet that cloud that darkened the sky, hid the sun, under whose terrible gloom the earth quaked and the dead came forth is an illustration of the glorious truth that in Him we have redemption of our sins, and life everlasting.
And as long as you and I have Christ, can we not bear all things and endure all things if we have hope of that redemption, and that Christ in our hearts, and the life everlasting beyond the grave?
In practical application, the first thing I would have you remember, is that God is often inscrutable — but never wrong! Write that with a pen of diamond on a rock: God is always right! Friend, if on the day of judgment, you go away condemned into Hell for the rejection of the blood of Christ, even there you will stand up and confess, “God is right — and I was wrong!”
The second thought is that on this side of the cloud, you and I have nothing to do but to receive the truth that comes through and walk by it. I know very often the revealed dispensations, the actual dispensations are very trying. But never get frightened at God’s clouds.
And so it will always be, that God is continually making clouds of trials which at first shock and frighten us but which are to be to us sources of infinite blessing.
One other thought. Clouds of trial often rain down lessons which can be gathered from no other source. Clouds of trial often rain down lessons as the dark cloud in the Heavens rains down showers on the thirsty field and lawn. God usually orders it that through penitence come praise and forgiveness; through trial comes triumph; yes, the cloud itself sends down mercy!
I counsel you to gain the utmost benefit of every hard lot, and learn the richest and deepest lesson that God can write on any cloud of trial.
Theodore L. Cuyler
There is a great lack in all God’s people who have never suffered; there is a great defect in the education of every Christian who has never had a sharp trial. The richest graces grow out of those ploughed fields where God puts the ploughshare of affliction deep into the very subsoil.
And now, last of all you and I should never be frightened by adversity, as if we were in the path of wrong when it comes upon us; as the Israelites were frightened at the Red Sea, though it lay in their pathway from Egypt; or any more than the disciples were wrong when they crossed the sea at the Master’s command, and when a storm came; we never should regard adversity as intended of God to harm us, to hinder us, or testify to us that we are in the wrong path. We should learn how to plunge into His sea and it shall part; and to go out with Him into the storm and He shall bring us calm.
When God afflicts the saints it is to try their precious faith. Afflictions are his spade, by which He digs into His people’s hearts to find out the gold of faith!
William Gurnall
You Can Trust Him 