Job found his legacy through the grief he experienced. He was tried that his godliness might be confirmed and validated. In the same way, my troubles are intended to deepen my character and to clothe me in gifts I had little of prior to my difficulties, for my ripest fruit grows against the roughest wall. I come to a place of glory only through my own humility, tears, and death, just as Job’s afflictions left him with a higher view of God and more humble thoughts of himself. At last he cried, “Now my eyes have seen you” (v. 5).

If I experience the presence of God in His majesty through my pain and loss, so that I bow before Him and pray, “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10), then I have gained much indeed. God gave Job glimpses of his future glory, for in those weary and difficult days and nights, he was allowed to penetrate God’s veil and could honestly say, “I know that my redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). So truly: “The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.”

Trouble never comes to someone unless it brings a nugget of gold in its hand.

Apparent adversity will ultimately become an advantage for those of us doing what is right, if we are willing to keep serving and to wait patiently. Think of the great victorious souls of the past who worked with steadfast faith and who were invincible and courageous! There are many blessings we will never obtain if we are unwilling to accept and endure suffering.

There are certain joys that can come to us only through sorrow. There are revelations of God’s divine truth that we will receive only when the lights of earth have been extinguished. And there are harvests that will grow only once the plow has done its work.

It is from suffering that the strongest souls ever known have emerged; the world’s greatest display of character is seen in those who exhibit the scars of sorrow; the martyrs of the ages have worn their coronation robes that have glistened with fire, yet through their tears and sorrow have seen the gates of heaven.

I will know by the gleam and glitter Of the golden chain you wear, By your heart’s calm strength in loving, Of the fire you have had to bear.

Beat on, true heart, forever; Shine bright, strong golden chain; And bless the cleansing fire And the furnace of living pain!

Bless the Lord , ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Bless ye the Lord , all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.

O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Be not conformed to this world: but ye be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.—A stone . . . cut out without hands.—Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.—The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Be ye . . . ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.

The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.

Understanding what the will of the Lord is.

It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

This is the will of God, even your sanctification.—That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.—Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth: wherefore lay apart all filthiness.

Be ye holy; for I am holy.—[Jesus] said, Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.—Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.—The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

God hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, . . . but now is my kingdom not from hence.—Expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.—Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.—I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; . . . and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.—Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.—Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Thy kingdom come.