I love the sweet moments where God teaches you something, and then allows you to use that thing He has taught you but in a different way.
College was a wonderful season of life for me. That is the season in which my relationship with Christ began, I learned unconditional love was a real thing, forgiveness is vital, bitterness is poison, and how to play the guitar. One of the first songs I learned to play was a song by Ginny Owens titled "If You Want Me To". At that time, During that season, when I sang it, I praised God looking back on trials and how only through His power was I able to overcome trials of childhood. Now, when I sing that song, I feel like I'm living it. But I am so grateful to serve a God that I can continue singing His praises knowing that while it's hard, He is still sovereign, and this victory might look different, and it might not come until eternity, He is still good. "The pathway is broken, and the signs are unclear And I don't know the reason why You brought me here But just because You love me the way that You do I'm gonna walk through the fire if You want me to" "Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step But I'm clinging to the promise that You're not through with me yet So if all of the trials bring me closer to You I will go through the valley if You want me to" "It may not be the way I would've chosen When You lead me through a world that's not my home But You never said it would be easy You only said I'd never go alone" "When the whole world turns against me, and I'm all by myself And I cannot hear You answer my cries for help I'll remember the suffering Your love put you through And I will go through the valley if You want me to" "When I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna shout I'm gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down So take me on that pathway that leads me Home to You And I will go through the valley if You want me to." https://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/ginny_owens/if_you_want_me_to_live_version-lyrics-156957.html If I've said it once, I'll say it a million times, I am so grateful to walk this earth with my Savior. I cannot imagine a day without Him because this earth is hard. Pain and suffering are hard. Sickness is hard. This earth is hard. Knowing this world is not my home, and looking forward to an eternity worshiping Him is an incredibly exciting, hope filled thing. Maybe your hardship is chronic illness. Maybe it's the loss of a loved one. Maybe it's a myriad of other things. Whatever it is, I know a Savior Who would love to hold You in His loving arms and walk it with You. He too suffered while walking this earth. But there is hope. There is rejoicing. And this can be found in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:9-14 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 1 Peter 2:19-24 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. I've been walking the valley of a chronic illness for a few years now, and I can't say it's been rainbows and butterflies. There have been dark, scary places, but those dark scary places disappear in the presence of the light of Jesus. I will praise Him for the progress He has helped me to make. He has opened many doors to knowledge, relationships, resources, and wellness. Through this, I've been overwhelmed by the people who have lifted me in up in the Name of Jesus. If that's you, thank you. I've learned a lot about the importance of diet and exercise. He has shown me so much in the area of suffering and how suffering is an individual thing, but it's powerful to have the brethren rejoice and weep with you. I am grateful for the periods of time with no pain- like I want to scream His praises from the rooftop, but I'm working on the realization that singing His praises from the rooftop should also come during times of suffering. I know this. He is faithful. His ways are higher than mine, and while I don't always understand, I know He knows best. If you know someone with chronic illness, please share my story. Connect me with them. Let me know how I can pray for them.
0 Comments
|
Author
Saved by God's amazing grace and living this divinely put together puzzle of a beautiful life He so graciously blessed. Archives
March 2020
Categories
|