Dear Sovereign Redeemer and other friends,

This from J.C. Ryle’s Practical Religion, Chapter 14, titled “The Best Friend”:

“The Lord Jesus makes no mistakes in managing His friends’ affairs. He orders all their concerns with perfect wisdom: all things happen to them at the right time, and in the right way. He gives them as much of sickness and as much of health, as much of poverty and as much of riches, as much of sorrow and as much of joy, as He sees their souls require. He leads them by the right way to bring them to the city of habitation [heaven]. He mixes their bitterest cups like a wise physician, and takes care that they have not a drop too little or too much. His people often misunderstand His dealings; they are silly enough to fancy their course of life might have been better ordered: but in the resurrection-day they will thank God that not their will, but Christ’s was done.”

We should think of God’s management of our lives in terms of His friendship toward us, even in the hard things which don’t seem friendly at the moment. He is unfailingly working all things together for our good.

Consistent with this, John Newton, also the author of the classic hymn of the faith “Amazing Grace,” wrote a beautiful hymn named “I Asked the Lord” (alternate tune by Indelible Grace).

Take a listen and be helped.