RELIEF in Time of Suffering

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,

that ir might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: 

for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly there-fore will I rather glory 

in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, 

in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:

for when I am weak, them am I strong.

For consider him that endured such contradiction

of sinners against himself

lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which 

speaketh unto you as unto children,

My son , despise not thou the chastening

of the Lord, nor faint when thou art 

rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, 

and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth

with you as with sons:

for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers, then are ye 

bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us,

and we gave them reverence:

shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of

spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after

their own pleasure;

but he for us profit,

that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous,

but grievous:

nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable

fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down,

and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, 

lest that which is lame be turned out of the way;

but let it rather be healed.