Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

by Timothy J. Keller

One hymn that expresses this process in a vivid way is one of John Newton’s Olney Hymns often entitled “These Inward Trials.” In it, Newton speaks of “gourds,” a reference to the gourd or plant that gave Jonah so much pleasure in Jonah 4, but which God blasted in order to show Jonah his misplaced priorities. In the hymn, they symbolize things that give us joy and pleasure but which are removed by trials to our grief. The hymn needs no comment—it speaks for itself. I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow In faith, and love, and ev’ry grace, Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face. I hop’d that in some favour’d hour, At once he’d answer my request: And by his love’s constraining pow’r, Subdue my sins, and give me rest. Instead of this he made me feel The hidden evils of my heart; And let the angry pow’rs of hell Assault my soul in ev’ry part. Yea more, with his own hand he seem’d Intent to aggravate my woe; Cross’d all the fair designs I schem’d, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low. Lord, why is this, I trembling cry’d, Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? “’Tis in this way,” the Lord reply’d, “I answer pray’r for grace and faith. “These inward trials I employ, “From self and pride to set thee free; “And break thy schemes of earthly joy, “That thou mayst seek thy all in me.”