“As long as I trace my pain to accident, my bereavement to mistake, my loss to another’s wrong, my discomfort to an enemy, and so on, I am of the earth, earthy, and shall break my teeth with gravel stones; but when I rise to my God and see his hand at work, I grow calm, I have not a word of repining.” Confidence in God’s sovereignty and paternal love did not prevent Spurgeon from sometimes asking “Why?”, however—especially when he was laid aside during times that he viewed as crucial for his work.