Sometimes God’s greatest gifts – are painful.
Is it not us, who judge if something is acceptable, pleasing, or right – by feeling?
And regard something by that alone if it is a gift from God?
But is it not Himself that uses even what appears to oppose His will to actually – accomplish it?
Is it not us that squint to see and judge by mere – feeling?
When we see clearly, with wide-open lens…
That, it is God that is in everything?
Is it only, with spectacles clear that then that our hearts, souls, and longings are … set free?
That it is only then that we can then magnify the sentiments of the mother of our Lord?
“My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior? …
Let it be done to me, according to thy Word?”
Perhaps it is the call of righteousness –
The choice…
The invitation – to live by faith.
As feeling and sight can both be at their best, fleeting.
Does not light and life itself arise – from darkness
When one who receives the gift,
Chooses to give thanks…
Above the voice of feeling?
Is not the gift of grace often wrapped in – suffering?
And tied with a crimson ribbon of hope?
Are those who dare to extol honor to the Giver expressing thanksgiving in and for all things?
Is it not those who receive the greater gift… of joy?
Embrace it, and are thus sustained by pure joy?
James 1:17 – Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow
Job 2:10 – But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Luke 1:46-55 – “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior …
Luke 1:38 – Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her
2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we live by believing and not by seeing.
Genesis 1:2-3 – The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Ephesians 5:20 – And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Isaiah 53:10 – But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
Whatever circumstances, situations, depths of pain or physical suffering one may be experiencing, know you are not alone. He cares, He offers a hand extended, and in time, when the invitation to embrace the pain is both felt, and healed, then can the gift of joy be experienced. May you be encouraged with joy in your soul through these words, even if the feelings are stronger than sight.
