We rejoice
The suffering builds
And the wild wind blows.
We ask for relief
But we hear not a sound.
Days later, again,
We continue to ask
“Please, take it away.”
But no answer is found.
And quiet we pour
Our grief at the door,
Enduring the storm
While wondering, why?
What He gave we didn’t know
The first day we asked.
Endurance for trial,
Strength for a while,
And every time that we ask
A little more is poured in.
Endurance forged strong
In the pressure of storm
Until one day we come
To ask one more time
But the urgency’s gone.
In the strength of the Son
Good character has cooled
After long in the fire.
And we settle there soft
With character new
And wonder how we’re through.
All along it all He knew
His love is poured out
In our oft-thirsty hearts
And hope is a flicker
That will fan eternity’s flame.
That yes, He is faithful
So in trial, we rejoice.
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
Here's a peak the next post in my "Whatevers of Philippians 4", coming in two weeks.
True
His angry words stung me. The shadows of evening stretched long across my backyard as the city stretched and yawned into evening. I sat there, the novel I was reading calling me, as text after text poured into my phone. The man, a stranger to me, was furious that I had backed out of our negotiations over a facebook marketplace listing I wanted to buy.
He questioned me, saying “It’s not that I don’t trust you… its just that I don’t trust anyone. If I mail it to you,” he pondered aloud, “how will I know you will pay?” On it went until I finally said I would find what I was looking for elsewhere and incited his rage. There was nothing I could do to guarantee to this stranger that my word was true.
If you haven't already, please subscribe for the newsletter and earlier posts.