by David Brenneman
In 1939, Thomas Dorsey wrote a hymn "Peace in the Valley".
"I am tired and weary but I must toil on
Till the Lord come to call me away
Where the morning is bright and the Lamb is the light
And the night is fair as the day
There'll be peace in the valley for me some day
There'll be peace in the valley for me
I pray no more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be
There'll be peace in the valley for me"
There's just some days where that first line of this song just resonates with me. Right now is one of them.
Being around people who know us, people who only know us as we used to be, or don't even know us at all can be draining.
Pressing on is the best we can do sometimes. Just standing firm in other times.
We are told by Jesus that in this world we will see persecutions, troubles. But to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world.
Yesterday a relative went home to Heaven to be with Jesus. No more sorrow, no sadness, no more troubles. Just peace.
My days of late have been very draining. Emotionally, mentally and physically. I don't know where June through August went. Fixing things that broke, having to do this or that without much of a break in between.
My solace times are still here in the early mornings with Jesus. No noise in the house. Just the gentle sounds of my wall clock. There are the times that all my prayers consist of to Him that are only "Help me Lord!" are often all that I can get out of me to Him.
Some days I really am tired and weary but I must travel on down this path set before me by the Spirit.
My closest of friends that I used to have is also in Heaven. It's been a rebuilding process to have another in my life. Oh the celebrations that go on there every single moment that another child of God comes home.
Yet, as it was with Paul, my burden is on those slipping into Hell at an alarming rate. Jesus said that the road is wide that leads to destruction. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.
I know that this weariness will pass some day. I still have work to do that is for me to be doing in the body of Christ.
It's difficult to not be jealous of those who have passed on to be with Jesus. It's also with incredible sadness that I see so many people who have turned away from God to the lies of this world. People deceived into "positive thoughts and feelings" for others rather than sharing that their prayers are with them.
Good vibes, positive thoughts, do nothing to truly help anyone else outside of our own minds.
The Bible says that if someone is sick, pray for them. If you can call the Elders to pray for them.
We are to bring everything concerning us to Christ for His help in dealing with. Doesn't matter how big or small. Jesus cares about you that much my Dear Reader.
My weariness will fade eventually.
My mental tiredness will be taken care of.
My emotional state will improve.
All because of the love of God in Christ Jesus for me. Regardless of what our eyes see or ears hear or whatever tries entering our minds...God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Does God need to explain Himself to you? No. Sometimes will He? Yes. We are not owed an explanation for our lives from God. We trust, we obey, we travel on.
Even looking back over the decades I doubt that Joseph, second in command of all of Egypt, son of Israel, understood everything that Jesus allowed in his life until after he left this world. Job didn't understanding everything until after he left. Samson wasn't beginning to get it until before he died.
Jesus is coming soon. Until that day I still have a job to do. All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus are going to be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12.
Even how I am in this moment God can and will cause to work together for good. I don't have to understand, I have to obey.
I pray for strength and understanding of my next steps.
Think on these things the Bible says.
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained." Philippians 3:7-16.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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