I guess we all face times when we just want to throw our hands in the air and say "I give up already!" That's where I'm at and boy would it be nice to just be able to snap my fingers and get everything back to normal (whatever that is!). That's probably not going to happen though.
It is hard for me to keep in perspective that the things that I feel are storms in my life are like a light sprinkle in someone else's life. I have to guard myself against selfishness and forgetting the needs of those around me. It's not very easy though. Sometimes I just want to pout, stomp my feet and have a good cry!
I know that the Bible teaches that our Christian life will not be without trials or hard times. It does, however, encourage us to keep going, knowing that the pain will not last forever and that persevering through it will strengthen us for the rest of this journey we call life.
James 1:12 says:
"Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life." (The Message)
Life and more life . . . that sounds like a pretty good trade off for the trials that I face from day to day. Why would I want to throw in the towel when I have promises like this?
Many of you are probably familiar with the song "Blessings" by Laura Story. (If not, it's on my playlist at the bottom of the blog.) That song has become an anthem of sorts for me ever since I heard it. It seems that each time I am facing something new that isn't what I had pictured for myself, this song seems to speak to that exact need. I want to share the lyrics because they continue to resonate in my heart and mind when I think of trials that I face and the trials that I see my friends and family face each day.
Blessings (by Laura Story)
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.
All the while, you hear each spoken need,
Yet love us way to much to give us lesser things.
Chorus:
Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
are what it takes to know you're near?
What if trials of this life
are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom, your voice to hear.
We cry in anger when we cannot feel you near.
We doubt your goodness. We doubt your love.
As if ever promise from Your Word is not enough.
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe.
(Chorus)
When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home.
It's not our home.
Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
are what it takes to know you're near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
And what if the trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?
I pray that as we all face trials in this life, that ultimately we would find "the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy." I also pray that we would go running into the arms of the only One who truly can satisfy our longings and carry us through the storm.
Love to you all and blessings as we walk this journey together.
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