Every Christian’s privilege is to enjoy unbroken assurance while living close to Christ. God wants us to trust him just as fully in the shadow as in the sunshine. There is grace enough in Christ to give light and joy in the darkest experience. Yet it is just as true that many of God’s noblest saints, in all ages, have had seasons of depression, when they lost the joy of salvation, and could not speak triumphantly of their hope. It is true, also, that there have been many devoted followers of Christ who never in their life could get farther than to hope they were Christ's disciples. Is this the best that the love of God and the grace of Christ can do for those who are saved?