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The very worst thing that can happen to any one of us is to allow the enemy to introduce any doubt into our minds as to the love of God which is behind ALL His dealings with us. Let Scripture explain. You will recall the case of Job, that worthy patriarch, "perfect and upright, one that feared God, and eschewed evil". Satan was allowed to tempt him. He lost his possessions, he lost his family, he lost his health. His was an extreme case doubtless, worse to be sure than most of us. But then the enemy shot a fiery dart at him. It was his wife in Job's case, and this gives one to notice that although we wrestle not with flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12) nevertheless sometimes the enemy uses flesh and blood when he attacks us. Well, his wife said to Job "Curse God and die". That was a cruel thrust; but Job, using our present Scripture, met that thrust with the shield of faith "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:9-10) and the fiery dart fell to the ground. But we can also think for a moment of an assembly situation, not an individual now but a company. Think of the Thessalonians. They were having an awful time, persecuted, maligned and experiencing suffering such as the church of God has oft times endured and which some of our beloved brethren are proving at the present time. The enemy took advantage of the situation to shoot a fiery dart — "it is the day of the Lord" he said (2 Thess. 2:2). Not at all says the apostle, don't you remember when we were with you we told you "We should suffer tribulation — we are appointed there unto" (1 Thess. 3:34). They were not to go through THE tribulation, they were to be raptured, a communication clothed with all authority, "the Word of the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:15). Thessalonians, put up the shields! Stand firm! All this is rather more practical than some realise. In Hebrews 12 when the saints were suffering, chastened, rebuked, scourged, is it not remarkable and very beautiful, that the Spirit of God changes the description from God to Father. I forget how many references there are to God in Hebrews but it is many, but when you come to this very practical chapter how tenderly the apostle (and the Spirit) deals with the very real sufferings of the saints. He speaks of the Father, precious reminder of a love and care that is unchanging. This is precisely what we see with our blessed Lord. His whole life of course was lived in the "calm unclouded enjoyment of the Father's love" but when the final crisis came, in the garden, with all the mighty issues of the cross (ponder it, my soul) from whom did He receive the cup? From the devil? Certainly not! "The cup which My Father giveth Me, shall I not drink it?" What a moment that was "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done". What a model for us. Oh for grace to walk more closely in His steps and to take to ourselves the shield of faith!