“Indeed, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10 Amplified Bible
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A devotional by C. H. Spurgeon
Comfort yourself, tried believer, with this thought —
God says, “I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.”
Let affliction come — God has chosen me.
Poverty, you may stride in at my door
but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me.
Sickness, you may intrude but I have a balsam ready — God has chosen me.
Whatever befalls me in this valley of tears, I know that He has “chosen” me.
If, believer, you require still greater comfort,
remember that you have the Jesus with you in the furnace.
In that silent chamber of yours,
there sits by your side One whom you have not seen but whom you love;
and ofttimes when you know it not,
He makes all your bed in your affliction and smooths your pillow for you.
You are in poverty; but the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor to you.
He loves to come into these desolate places, that He may visit you.
Your Friend sticks closely to you.
You cannot see Him but you may feel the pressure of His hands.
Do you not hear His voice?
Even in the valley of the shadow of death He says,
“Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”
Fear not, Christian — Jesus is with you!
In all your fiery trials, His presence is both your comfort and safety.
He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own.
“Fear not — for I am with you,” is His sure Word of promise
to His chosen ones in the “furnace of affliction.”
Will you not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say,
“Through floods and flames, if Jesus leads — I’ll follow where He goes.”