The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen may dine.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
It is the easiest thing in the world to obey God when He commands us to do what we like, and to trust Him when the path is all sunshine. The real victory of faith is to trust God in the dark, and through the dark.
—Theodore L. Cuyler (1822–1909) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Writer
It is trial that proves one thing weak and another strong.—A house built on the sand is in fair weather just as good as if builded on a rock.—A cobweb is as good as the mightiest cable when there is no strain upon it.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men.
—A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) American Pastor, Author, Editor
Trial: A formal inquiry designed to prove and put upon record the blameless characters of judges, advocates and jurors.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Appeal: In law, to put the dice into the box for another throw.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
All of the troubles that some people have in life is that which they married into.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Nothing can render affliction so insupportable as the load of sin. Would you then be fitted for afflictions? Be sure to get the burden of your sins laid aside, and then what affliction soever you may meet with will be very easy to you.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
When a founder has cast a bell he does not presently fix it in the steeple, but tries it with his hammer, and beats it on every side to see if there be any flaw in it. So Christ doth not, presently after he has converted a man, convey him to heaven; but suffers him first to be beaten upon by many temptations, and then exalts him to his crown.
—Richard Cecil
There are no crown-wearers in heaven that were not cross-bearers here below.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
As the musician straineth his strings, and yet he breaketh none of them but maketh thereby a sweeter melody and better concord; so God, through affliction, makes his own better unto the fruition and enjoying of the life to come.
—Daniel Cawdrey (1588–1664) English Clergyman
Afflictions are but the shadows of God’s wings.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Affliction is not sent in vain from the good God who chastens those that he loves.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
It was a beautiful and striking reply, given by one in affliction, who, when asked how it was that he bore it so well, replied,—“It lightens the stroke, I find, to draw near to Him who handles the rod.”
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
All trials are trials for one’s life, just as all sentences are sentences of death.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
There are many trials in life which do not seem to come from unwisdom or folly; they are silver arrows shot from the bow of God, and fixed inextricably in the quivering heart.—They are to be borne.—They were not meant, like snow or water, to melt as soon as they strike; but the moment an ill can be patiently borne it is disarmed of its poison, though not of its pain.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
God had one Son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Outward attacks and troubles rather fix than unsettle the Christian, as tempests from without only serve to root the oak faster; while an inward canker will gradually rot and decay it.
—Hannah More
Amid my list of blessings infinite, stands this the foremost, “that my heart has bled.”
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you and you have to battle with only one of them.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
Blessed be the discipline that makes me reach out to a closer union with Jesus!—Blessed be the dews of the spirit that keep my leaf ever green!—Blessed be the trials which shake down the ripe golden fruits from the branches.
—Theodore L. Cuyler (1822–1909) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Writer
A joke, even if it be a lame one, is nowhere so keenly relished or quickly applauded as in a murder trial.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider how a man comes out of the furnace; gold will lie for a month in the furnace without losing a grain.
—Richard Cecil
Under the shadow of earthly disappointment, all unconsciously to ourselves, our Divine Redeemer is walking by our side.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
There is nothing so consoling as to find one’s neighbor’s troubles are at least as great as one’s own.
—George Moore (1852–1933) Irish Writer
For thou, O God, hast proved us; thou has tried us, as silver is tried.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
I have always believed that God never gives a cross to bear larger than we can carry. No matter what, he wants us to be happy, not sad. Birds sing after a storm. Why shouldn’t we?
—Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890–1995) American Socialite, Philanthropist
Trials are medicine which our gracious and wise physician prescribes, because we need them and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires, let us trust in his skill and thank him for his prescription.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.
—Peter Marshall
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