Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 94:12

You may and ought to get especial rejoicing faith out of sanctified afflictions. Thus: "Whom God doth correct and teach, him he loves, he is blessed: (Ps 94:12 Heb 12:6:) but God doth so to me: ergo." Here are bills and prayers for mercies; but who looks after the issue, the teaching, the holy use? Sanctified afflictions are very good evidences, and so very comfortable. There are those who would not have lost their sufferings, temptations, afflictions, for any good. The blessed Spirit hath taught them that way many a divine truth by heart out of the word; they are sensible of it, and from it conclude the love of God in Christ to them; and thence they have joy and comfort, —that joy that angels cannot give, and devils cannot take. Sanctified troubles are tokens of special love. Christopher Fowler (1610-1678), in "The Morning Exercises."