Along the narrow way that leads to heaven, the Christian meets with many
experiences that to him seem strange and inexplicable. That at times
he should walk in light and then again in darkness; that sometimes he
should run with ease and then again be compelled (as Bunyan puts it) "to
fall from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands
and his knees, because of the steepness of the place"; that he should
stand today upon the mountain-top of glory and tomorrow find himself
plunged into the valley of despondency and gloom; that today he should
feel so clearly his Savior's presence, and tomorrow be left seemingly so
entirely to himself; all these and many other things of like nature tend
to puzzle and confuse the souls of pilgrims on the way to glory. That
discouragements and disappointments would come from outside sources
almost all have expected, but that the inward life should be changeful
and varied in any wise many have not thought consistent with true
Christian experience.