Okay, so yesterday I thought I published a post but obviously something went wrong and it has disappeared to the the dimension known as cyberspace where I am pretty sure all the lost socks live as well. I am posting a new entry today to make up for yesterday's magical computer disappearing act.
I have a new favorite song! Well, more like another song to add to my ever growing list of favorites. Every time I hear this song I find myself strengthened and encouraged. There are a few "mountains" in my life that I have been praying about for many years and not only do they seem not to move, but sometimes they seem to grow taller and take up even greater space on my path through life. The trials seem to go on and on, no light at the end of the tunnel. Discouragement and frustration frequently batter my heart over certain unanswered prayers that I daily bring before my heavenly Father. I wonder, "why?" Where is my answer, where is my deliverance? Many days I've allowed these situations to steal my joy and drive away my peace. I know I am not alone in this.
We all face things in our lives or in our loved ones lives that never seem to change. God seems to be deaf to our pleas. Is He ignoring our tears and our heartache? I must admit, I have accused Him of that on more than one (or two) occasions.
As I listened to this song yesterday, I was brought (in my mind) to the garden of Gethsemane where a lone man cried out for deliverance. That man faced a horrendous death, excruciating pain, betrayal, abandonment and ultimately, separation from all that was holy and good, His Father. He was not delivered. He submitted. Jesus, the one and only Son of the God was not given a pass, He was not instantly transported out of His situation. He had to submit and go through. But oh the reward! The glorious, wonderful, eternal reward...for us!!
I want to be delivered from my problems. I get tired of fighting my addictions, tired of being unhappy about the turns my life has made. I want to wake up one morning (like yesterday would be good) and be free, having everything just the way I think it should be. But God doesn't work that way. He didn't release Jesus from the preordained path He was to walk. I believe God does, on occasion, give instant freedom. But more often than not we have to walk the walk, keep the faith, fight the battles and go through. And it's hard!!! And it hurts!!! But oh, the reward!
This God visit, as I pictured Jesus going through His hardest moments I realized that I have a Savior who understands my pain, my heartache and even my desire to run away. I want to, like Him, trust and keep my faith intact even if God doesn't deliver from the fires and floods of life. I want to, like Him, say, "Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine."
Matthew 26:36-42 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Lord, help me to say "It is well" even when You don't relieve the burdens of my heart. I know, You can. I know You are able. But even if You don't, let us remember that You are good, Your heart is kind, Your plans are perfect and You are for us. Help us all to know these truths more than any other facts of life.
We can.
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