The Furnace of Affliction

Lord, in reading
Charles Haddon Spurgeon " Morning and Evening Devotional this morning, I was struck by Your amazing love and grace:
"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." — Isaiah 48:10

      Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come—God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude, but I have a balsam ready—God has chosen me. 
Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that He has “chosen” me. 

      If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, He makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that He may visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see Him, but thou mayst feel the pressure of His hands. 

      Dost thou not hear His voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death He says, “Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God.” Remember that noble speech of Caesar: “Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune.” Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. “Fear not, for I am with thee,” is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the “furnace of affliction.” Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say—

“Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I’ll follow where He goes.”

       In Daniel I read about the three Hebrews in the furnace and how You walked with them in the flames.  Not only did you save their lives and protect them there, but their clothes and body did not even smell like smoke when they emerged!  Sweet Lord, I know of many and also have some family members who are in that furnace of affliction, poverty and sickness, and have been there myself.  It is not fun to be there by any means; but You have been a sweet presence and wonderful loving friend to me during those times giving comfort, encouragement, and healing.
      Like the Hebrew children, I would pray that anyone meeting me would not be able to smell the smoke from the furnace either, but would see only the warm glow from being near the warmth of Your lovingkindness.
      Lord; I do not know why You did, but thank You for choosing me.