"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; ... they shall not overflow thee." Isaiah 43:2
In an old book by Dr. Watson, written in 1696, I found this paragraph: "Sharp afflictions are to the soul as a soaking rain to the house. We know not that there are such holes in the roof, till the shower comes, and then we see it drop down here and there. Perhaps we did not know that there were such unmortified cuts in our soul, till the storm of afflictions came, then we found unbelief, impatience, and carnal fear dropping down in many places." How true it is that affliction tests us and proves what sort of Christians we are. If there are defects in our spiritual armor, they will show up best under the strain and pressure of trouble.
When the flood-gates of distress are opened and the trials come thick and fast, it is then we echo with understanding the words of the psalmist who exclaimed in his anxiety, "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul" (Psalm 69:1). Yet we need not fear, for it is our loving Heavenly Father who holds the "waters in the hollow of His hand" and who metes them out in sufficient quantities to cleanse us - to indicate where our "spiritual roof" needs repairing - but never enough to overflow us or drown us.
Have you been passing through deep waters? Have you been disturbed, irritated, faithless, fearful, or rebellious? Realize then that God no doubt put you through this difficulty to reveal to you your spiritual needs. By prayer, faith, and yielding to the Holy Spirit, repair the "leaky roof of your testimony."
Bread For Each Day M.R.DeHaan, M.D. and H.G.Bosch
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