For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Cor. 4:17.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
The last few days have been extremely busy..and Sunday was very hard for me. So much soul searching..and feeling that nagging feeling of grief over attitudes I still can't seem to overcome. I realized yet again, that I haven't really learned how to truly love unconditionally. I'm happy to love my friends..that's the easy part..but to love those who are hard to love..that's something, truly, that only God can do in us.
I think the Lord was really confronting me with the fact that he wants "all of my heart"..not just 90%. And when he says to leave justice to him, he expects me to leave ALL of it to him. I don't get to harbor even a teeny tiny bit of 'attitude' towards anyone, no matter how justified I might be.
It's too easy to be just a little uncharitable or ungracious towards someone we think has hurt us. But the Lord is so good to point out to me, "Donna..that's not good enough. I want 100% love..100% dying to yourself. 100% of laying down your rights." You don't get even one little smidgen of pride, retribution, or finger pointing. It all belongs to me..you..belong to me.
Dying to self is just no fun. Part of me is always trying to scramble to reserve just a little bit of self for me. What really happens is that your whole 'self' revives it's ugly head if you give room for even the tiniest bit. Selfishness never works. It brings pain, bitterness, and damage every time..to someone.
Lord, I'm sorry for not being willing to live wholly for you, with nothing held back. Please give me the grace to withstand the temptations you have allowed in my life. Help me not to complain that the trial is too hard or too long or thinking that it isn't fair. I know that suffering is so GOOD for me however miserable it might feel at the time.
In the end, there is peace, joy, patience, and understanding. Today, I feel peace. I see the 'big picture'. All things really do work for my good..and the good of others too. Help me trust that you are in control of even the smallest of details.
Truly, weeping endures for the night, but Joy does come in the morning!
1 comments:
"Help me trust that you are in control of even the smallest of details."
This is such a good thing for all of us to keep in mind.
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