For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Psalm 22:24
I've known heartache. Personally and in relationships.
I've cried tears of desperation to God when I was longing for deliverance from the demons who plagued me from childhood. I've suffered incessantly from voices in my head screaming lies about who I was. I've endured physical and emotional pain as my first child passed through my body without life.
I cried out in a loud voice to God when a friend went through a divorce. I've pleaded with God on many occasions to deliver a youth from an unhealthy and dangerous relationship. I've asked God countless times to bring comfort to a brother or sister who suffered as a result of a misunderstanding whether I was involved or not.
In each of these situations hope was always there and in his time, God brought about peace, comfort and restoration. Because of these experiences and more I know that God will work again in the areas where my heartaches.
He will work in the life of my friend whose heart breaks daily for her child.
He will work in the lives of a precious family facing divorce.
He will work in the lives of our youth who need to know unconditional love.
He will work in my church to bring unity.
Because he hears my cries and he is faithful.
"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I have experienced a lot of these "times" this week. The Lord has been speaking to me and opening my eyes to so many things and I am so grateful. Even the things that hurt me, that catch me off guard and make me take a sharp breath of pain and shock also give me reason to praise him. I KNOW I am in his will and when I am unsure of where I should take my next step his word shines on my path. I know he is getting ready to do a new thing in my life. He is restoring so many things in my life that I didn't even know were broken. And I am so thankful that as long as I give myself to him, he will finish the work in me that he has started. Many people in my life will not understand, many will turn their backs to me but I will keep pressing forward because he has chosen me, called me and raised me up. For such a time as this...
