Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all (Ps. 34:19).
God does not promise that His people will not have trouble. He does not say that they will never be afflicted, but He promises to bring them out of all their afflictions. In some cases this deliverance may not be completed in this life. God did not keep the worthies out of the fire, but "the form of the fourth" was with them. He did not keep Daniel out of the lions' den, but His angel delivered him there. He did not keep the apostle Paul out of the storm, but His angel was with him in the storm. Of the apostle Peter, bound with two chains in the innermost prison, it is written: "Behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison" (Acts 12:7).
It is indeed true that "many are the afflictions of the righteous," but "the righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles" (Ps. 34:17). The Scripture declares that "man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7). But there is something more to it than this. As Edward Judson, son of Adoniram Judson, has said: "Suffering and success go together. If you are succeeding without suffering, it is because others before you have suffered. If you are suffering without succeeding, it is that others after you may succeed."
It was in the very midst of the storm when, to the disciples in the little boat, everything seemed lost, that Jesus appeared walking on the water and said, "It is I; be not afraid" (Matt. 14:27).
When waves of trouble round me swell,
My soul is not dismayed;
I hear a voice I know well--
" 'Tis I; be not afraid."
__C. Elliott
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: Lord, make haste to help me" (Ps. 40:13).
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