For as many lessons I’ve learned, I’m only now learning to realize the proximity between pain, suffering, friends, family, the power of prayer, the power of grief, but above all the hope of glory and the strength I have done nothing to earn, but am so lavishly, freely graciously (and am beyond words able to express grateful) to be given throughout each of these moments’ intersections, interweaving and often undoings.
But the undoing is not the deep pit it once was, but to an an undoing that brings me instead to my knees in awe that God Himself dwells within me and is eternally with me; the cross lays a barrier now against what the Pilgram’s Progress called the slow despondency within.
My cross to bear is only as heavy as I choose to make it. And I am aghast at the titanic weight I’ve chosen to give it when He offers again and again to bear its weight and my own as well freely each new breath if I let Him. He said for my yoke is easy and my burden light.
It is not He but I who am just beginning the glimpsing of how life can be. He was before all things, is now and will be forever, but it took me until now to realize how He can use moments we feel will never end as when in pain (which seems to be the greatest equalizer but I may be wrong, but it also the times of when greatest empathy and compassion and decency are shown) to show us what timelessness can mean.
There is so much darkness readily identifiable, so very, very much more not spoken of that needs to be, and so much of its true source is the enemy keeping us from acknowledging we need the Light and the grace of forgiveness and love, mercy and strength offered instead of we only lift our eyes.
Come Jesus Come Acoutic Stephen McWhirter
https://youtu.be/_SF9xrCtdgE?si=iSt7rdBo1eNaeJ2b
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus performed by Rosemary Siemens:
Abide by Aaron Williams
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day performed by Casting Crowns
