"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows" 2Corinthians 1:5

I just read this out of my Morning and Evening devotion book by Charles Spurgeon and thought it was really good and I wanted to share it.

Here is a blessed proportion. The Ruler of Providence bears a pair of scales--on one side He puts His people's trials, and on the other He puts their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty, you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition; and when the scale of trials is full, you will find the scale of consolation just as heavy. When the black clouds gather most, the light is more brightly revealed to us. When the night lowers and the tempest is coming on, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to His crew. It is a blessed thing, that when we are most cast down, then it is that we are most lifted up by the consolations of the spirit. One reason is, because trials make more room for consolation. Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the reservoir of comfort deeper, and makes more room for consolation. God comes into our heart--He finds it full--He begins to break our comforts and to make it empty; then there is more room for grace. The more humble we are, the more comfort we will always get, because we will be more fitted to receive it. another reason why we are often most happy in our troubles is this---then we have the closest dealings with God. When the barn is full, we can live without God: When the purse is bursting with gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But once our gourds are taken away we want our God; Once our household idols are purified, then we are compelled to honor Jehovah. "Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord." There is not cry so good as that which comes from the bottom of the mountains; no prayer half so hearty as that which comes up from the depths of the soul, through deep trials and afflictions. Hence they bring us to God, and we are happier; for nearness to God is happiness. Come, troubled believer, don't brood over your heavy troubles, for they are the heralds of weighty mercies.