It is indeed natural to us to wish and to plan, and it is merciful in the Lord to disappoint our plans, and to cross our wishes. For we cannot be saf… - John Newton

We have no Scriptural evidence that we serve the Lord at all, any farther than we find a habitual desire and aim to serve him wholly.
He is gracious to our imperfections and
weakness; yet he requires all the heart, and
will not be served by halves, nor accept what is performed by a divided heart.

Thus the Lord, by pain, sickness, and disappointments, by breaking our cisterns and withering our gourds — weakens our attachment to this world, and makes the thought of leaving it, more easy and more desirable.

It is the complete system of divine truth to which nothing can be added and from which nothing can be taken with impunity. Every attempt to disguise or soften any branch of this truth in order to accommodate it to the prevailing taste around us either to avoid the displeasure or court the favor of our fellow mortals must be an affront to the majesty of God and an act of treachery to men.