This post is being written later than I ever hoped, you know the one to follow up this one about struggle, but life's been full lately friends. I'm thankful for the lovely mess of it all.
So catching up from my last post...tears yes, tears come when you can't do much to anything about your situation. Tears when fears fill up fast. Tears when the suffering is long and hope is distant. Tears when you see others so "blessed" and you wonder if God cares for you, if He sees you, if He remembers you. These hours are lonely and hard. And this verse lingers over me now: Psalm 126:5-6. The verse I wept with in singleness. In purpose stuckness. In heartache of all kind. Let it speak here too.
Isn't that Jesus when heavy, empty hearts grow with joyful enthusiasm & in time with plenty!! Isn't it God's kingdom when the poor in spirit are the blessed? Isn't there so much room for Him to respond? For God to be God? And you'll see it...
When Christian women come into your life graciously meeting fellowship and financial needs. So you can pay that electricity bill and that student loan bill. You aren't forgotten. You aren't a failure. You cry big sloppy joyful tears when this truth sinks into your soul: "Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" (James 2:5) Shame lifts. You are chosen to be rich in faith and you will inherit!
When your family sends a coat, snow pants and boots unexpectedly in the mail. When other family provide outfit after outfit so that your daughter is so richly dressed you wonder why you worried. Her drawers and closet overflowing with adorable goodness. And you wanted to chase after earthly things. You were desperate, too desperate trying to do it yourself. Disobedient really. And God led you this way: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
When you feel wronged and you learn to grow rich in grace. Because grace wins. You see the beauty of it. You feel His grace fill in the broken places of your life and you want to be more like the treasure the Lord is. "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins." (Ephesians 1:7)
I'm really thankful for all the need, all the want in my life. It moves me to trust, to let go of control, to greater gentleness, and most hopefully, to the Father.
So catching up from my last post...tears yes, tears come when you can't do much to anything about your situation. Tears when fears fill up fast. Tears when the suffering is long and hope is distant. Tears when you see others so "blessed" and you wonder if God cares for you, if He sees you, if He remembers you. These hours are lonely and hard. And this verse lingers over me now: Psalm 126:5-6. The verse I wept with in singleness. In purpose stuckness. In heartache of all kind. Let it speak here too.
And now, God, DO IT AGAIN-bring rains to our drought-stricken lives So those who planted their crops in despair will shout HURRAHS at the harvest, So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home LAUGHING, with armloads of blessing. [The Message]
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will RETURN WITH SONGS of joy, carrying sheaves with them. [NIV]
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall DOUBTLESS come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him. [NKJV]
Isn't that Jesus when heavy, empty hearts grow with joyful enthusiasm & in time with plenty!! Isn't it God's kingdom when the poor in spirit are the blessed? Isn't there so much room for Him to respond? For God to be God? And you'll see it...
When Christian women come into your life graciously meeting fellowship and financial needs. So you can pay that electricity bill and that student loan bill. You aren't forgotten. You aren't a failure. You cry big sloppy joyful tears when this truth sinks into your soul: "Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" (James 2:5) Shame lifts. You are chosen to be rich in faith and you will inherit!
When your family sends a coat, snow pants and boots unexpectedly in the mail. When other family provide outfit after outfit so that your daughter is so richly dressed you wonder why you worried. Her drawers and closet overflowing with adorable goodness. And you wanted to chase after earthly things. You were desperate, too desperate trying to do it yourself. Disobedient really. And God led you this way: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
When you feel wronged and you learn to grow rich in grace. Because grace wins. You see the beauty of it. You feel His grace fill in the broken places of your life and you want to be more like the treasure the Lord is. "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins." (Ephesians 1:7)
I'm really thankful for all the need, all the want in my life. It moves me to trust, to let go of control, to greater gentleness, and most hopefully, to the Father.
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