There is a blessed proportion at work here. The Ruler of Providence holds a pair of scales—on one side he places his people's trials, and on the other he places their consolations. When the scale of trials is nearly empty, you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition. But when the scale of trials is full? You will find the scale of consolation just as heavy.

When the black clouds gather most, the light is more brightly revealed to us. When night falls and the tempest is coming on, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to his crew. It is a blessed thing! When we are most cast down, then it is that we are most lifted up by the consolations of the Spirit.

Why is this? First, because trials make more room for consolation. Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the reservoir of comfort deeper and deeper, making more room for consolation to pour in. God comes to our hearts—he finds them full. Full of our own plans, our own comforts, our own securities. So he begins to break our comforts and make us empty. And then? Then there is more room for grace. The humbler a man lies, the more comfort he will always have, because he will be more fitted to receive it.

Here is another reason we are often most happy in our troubles: then we have the closest dealings with God. When the barn is full, man can live without God. When the purse is bursting with gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But once take our gourds away, and we want our God! Once cleanse the idols out of the house, then we are compelled to honor Jehovah.

"Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord!" There is no cry so good as that which comes from the bottom of the mountains. No prayer half so hearty as that which comes up from the depths of the soul through deep trials and afflictions. Hence they bring us to God, and we are happier—for nearness to God is happiness.

Come, troubled believer! Fret not over your heavy troubles, for they are the heralds of weighty mercies.