Streams in the Desert August 10 Daily Devotional

When he had heard therefore that he was sick he abode two days still in the same place where he was (John 11:6).
In the forefront of this marvelous chapter stands the affirmation,
I "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," as if to teach
us that at the very heart and foundation of all God's dealings with
us, however dark and mysterious they may be, we must dare to
believe in and assert the infinite, unmerited, and unchanging love
of God. Love permits pain. The sisters never doubted that He would speed at all hazards and stay their brother from death, but "When
he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."
What, a starting "therefore"! He abstained from going, not because He did not love them, but because He did love them. His love alone kept Him back from hasting at once to the dear and stricken home. Anything less than infinite love must have rushed instantly to the
relief of those loved and troubled hearts, to stay their grief and
to have the luxury of wiping and stanching their tears and causing sorrow and sighing to flee away. Divine love could alone hold back the impetuosity of the Savior's tenderheartedness until the Angel
of Pain had done her work.
Who can estimate how much we owe to suffering and pain? But for

them we should have little scope for many of the chief of the Christian life. Where were faith, without trial to test it or
patience, with nothing to bear, or experience, without tribulation to develop it? --Selected
Loved! then the way will not be drear;
For One we know is ever near, Proving it to our hearts so clear That we are loved.
Loved when our sky is clouded o'er, And days of sorrow press us sore; Still we will trust Him evermore,
For we are loved.
Time, that affects all things below,
Can never change the love He'll show; The heart of Christ with love will flow, And we are loved.