Day Three

"I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord...

The Lord is gracious and righteous;

Our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the simplehearted;

When I was in great need, He saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,

For the Lord has been good to you."

....Psalm 116:3-7....

This psalmist is undefined, but if His anguish was anything like that of David's, it may have had to do with life and death. Though this is also undefined, those times were definitely overcome with trouble and sorrow--and those in very real instances.

My sorrow isn't life and death, which makes me feel rather small in the sorrowing. But it still seems very real in the midst of it. The past couple days seemed to permiate of things that reminded me of hurt, of what I've lost, of what's been asked of me; thus making it easy to despair. Then finally, at the very end of the day, a friend put a voice to these hurts. I cried out for His comfort, needed any ounce of it for but a moment. And in His compassion and protection, He rescued me in even my little need. The last two lines of that Psalm are so warm, I can't even put words to it.

Be at rest, my soul.

He is greater than anything I could ever know or devise. His ways, thoughts, counsel--too vast for me to even try to fathom! "I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul" (Ps. 131). He is God, and I am not.

He has been so good to me.

I don't have riches in abundance to prove this to the world, nor everything I have ever wanted at my feet and disposal. His goodness is higher than these things! Higher than anything materialistic and perishable. We may never know the depths of His work in us, but you know...that's okay. :-)

I wanted to share more in detail, but I can't find the words to share the depths yet. It's been easier for me to turn my eyes to His goodness, and find rest once more. :-) I found it interesting that the psalmist worded it that way: once more. We're going to need it again.

Above is a picture of the books I'm reading now--Jeremiah, North & South, and Hinds' Feet on High Places--and a little tea cup I found for $4.99 at a little country store. And below is a quote that Anna gave me...it blessed me very much today. It made the joy-in-the-sorrow a little easier to embrace, because it's an honor to suffer for the One we love. And in being utterly satisfied by Him alone, there's a sweet spirit even in brokenness.

"The breaking of the alabaster box and the anointing of the Lord filled the house with the odor, with the sweetest odor. Everyone could smell it. Whenever you meet someone who has really suffered; been limited, gone through things for the Lord, willing to be imprisoned by the Lord, just being satisfied with Him and nothing else, immediately you scent the fragrance. There is a savor of the Lord. Something has been crushed, something has been broken, and there is a resulting odor of sweetness." --Watchman Nee