“When God makes us knock at mercy’s gate, it is a great blessing. When we plead with God and have not realized success, we become more earnest and more intent and our hunger increases. If we obtained the blessing when we first asked, we would not have a sense of mercy’s value…
…I never would have been able to comfort anguished seekers if I myself had not been kept waiting for mercy. I have always felt grateful for distress because of the results afterward.
Many saints whose experiences are published could never have written those books if they had not waited hungry and thirsty and full of soul sorrow. The spade of agony digs deep trenches to hold the water of life.
If the ships of prayer do not speedily return, it is because they are heavily loaded with blessings.
If you knock with a heavy heart, you will soon sing with the joy of the Spirit. Therefore, do not be discouraged because the door is still closed.”
– Charles Spurgeon, Beside Still Waters, “Waiting for Mercy,” 2 Samuel 7:15 –
This Spurgeon quote reminds me of James 1. Are we willing to allow Steadfastness to have its FULL effect, on God’s time table, in His way, through His means?
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3Â for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4Â And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”