Have you ever stopped to think about how merciful it is, that there are consequences to sin? Maybe I'm the only one, but I must admit to learning as a little child learns. I don't touch the hot stove, because I disobeyed once and know it to be hot.If I couldn't feel the pain, more damage would be done. I would leave my hand there only to see the effects later. I would be helpless to reverse them.
In His judgement I find mercy. A paradox our human minds wrestle to comprehend. Its beautiful, really.
The incredible thing is that if I do leave my hand there too long, His mercy comes in the fashion of forgiveness. Grace. Grace heals me.
And thats their answer. They stopped and considered and asked why. In troubled times the lost seek. The believer re-focuses. When He's all you have, you'll realize He's all you'll ever need.
He. feels. your. pain. If He can feel it too, don't you think His reason for the affliction must be of more consequence than the pain?
His mercy endures forever. His compassions fail never.
The following passage is excerpts of Lamentations 3. I highly recommend looking it up and reading it in its entirety. It seems like it could be my own personal testimony... and I'm sure, many others' as well. Pay attention to the detail of this amazing passage.
He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
...
And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.
Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
O LORD, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
10 Reflections:
I love Lamentations 3. It could be called my testimony too! Thanks for this excellent post and reminder.
good thoughts. reminds me of my all-time favorite sermon (well, one of 'em) "The Gift of Moral Pain" by Doug Small. :)
~guess who from Starbucks.
Melinda, I think Lamentations 3 is one of my very favorites.
Anonymous, ok, here's my first guess. Is your name Chelsea?? :) Regardless, thanks for the comment.
i love that song kk♥
and that portion of Scripture(o:
thank you. (o:
Beautiful post. This is something I'd never really given much thought to - but it's so true. Thank you for pointing it out, and so eloquently :)
I guess that is the first time I have looked at it like that. I agree totally, and it truly is another thing our Savior blesses us with! Oh, and that is a beautiful passage!
Christin
I love your thought provoking posts!
Love, Kate
(Hey, as I side note, tag, you're it! :)
ummmm.... no. my name is nowhere close to chelsea... hahahaha! I do love starbucks, and walk over here to get on the net. ;)
~Me
ooooh, I know who you are... :P
Hey everybody I was reading Psalms 119 the other day and found these verses. I had underlined them so I wonder if its what planted the thoughts in my mind way back when.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Wow, I wrote this big long post, and God said it in two verses :)
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