The Holy Spirit, dwelling within, turns our eyes from that which
is temporal to that which is eternal; from the trial itself to
God's purpose in the trial; from the present pain to the precious
promise.
I am now writing in a little city made rich by vast potteries. If
the dull, heavy clay on the potter's wheel and in the fiery oven
could think and speak, it would doubtless cry out against the
fierce agony; but if it could foresee the purpose of the potter,
and the thing of use and beauty he meant to make it, it would
nestle low under his hand and rejoice in hope.
We are clay in the hand of the Divine Potter, but we can think
and speak, and in some measure understand His high purpose in us.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make us understand. And if
we will not be dull and senseless and unbelieving, He will
illuminate us and fill us with peaceful, joyous hope.
1. He would reveal to us that our Heavenly Potter has Himself
been on the wheel and in the fiery furnace, learning obedience
and being fashioned into "the Captain of our salvation" by the
things which He suffered. When we are tempted and tried, and
tempest-tossed, He raises our hope by showing us Jesus suffering
and sympathising with us, tempted in all points as we are, and so
able and wise and willing to help us in our struggle and conflict
(Hebrews ii. 9-18). He assures us that Jesus, into whose hands is
committed all power in Heaven and earth, is our elder Brother,
"touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Hebrews iv.
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