Part 3 - An Example From A Friend

A radio friend of ours, Mrs. Irene Howard, of Oklahoma, a wonderfully sweet Christian, has been through many dangers, toils, and snares and has encouraged my heart by saying, "As soon as I have strength to shoulder my pack, I'll march again. Fiery trials make golden Christians.” And again she said, “When He can see His face in me, He will turn off the fire,”

“Things just don’t happen to children of God,
They are part of a wonderful plan,
The troubles, reverses, the sorrow, the rod,
Are strokes of the great Sculptor’s hand.

“When some dread accident strikes you a blow
And you worry and fret and demand,
Why try so hard the mystery to know,
It’s not just an accident – it’s planned.

“Have you been dropped from a place of power?
Do you wonder and reprimand?
Don't rebel, look to Him in that hour –
This didn't just happen – it's planned.

“Persecution, tribulation come down like a storm,
Friends disappoint and withstand,
At last, all alone, bewildered, forlorn.
You look and He smiles – this is planned.

“Do you wonder why God through affliction should call?
And why you must suffer and moan?
No man should be moved by affliction says Paul.
Don’t question – He planned it just so.

“Things just don’t happen to children of God,
The blueprint was made by His hand,
He designed all details to conform to His Son,
So all things that happen are planned.

“No matter what happens to those called His own,
Events that are awful or grand,
Every trial of your life He sends from His throne,
Things just don’t happen – they are planned.”

Your only sorrow that has no healing is the sorrow that takes us away from the Saviour. "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions," Matthew 19:22. “And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” Luke 18:23-24.

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