Two Truths

Whatever my circumstances, whatever my experiences, whatever God brings or allows into my life, two things are true as His child: it happened because He loves me, and it happened so that He, through me, will be glorified. Those two truths are the "bedrock" of victorious Christian living. When I resist instead of embracing those two miracles, my faith staggers and my life is a misery. I wallow in self-pity; and yet, I could easily "flip" through the pages of Scripture and find multiple saints who experienced far worse things than I did--and yet, through triumphant confidence in His love and wisdom brought glory to Him through steadfast obedience--through a steadfast love for Him. Loss, heartache, sorrow are all tremendous gifts to make His presence known. To be a man or woman of sorrows is to be like Him. To be obedient to the Father in the midst of suffering--to embrace His will through my tears and agony-- is to be like Him. To forgive those who are responsible for my cross is to be like Him. To fully understand His love for me, to deeply know Him, I must travel the paths of sorrow and pain. There will be no joy in my heart without times of suffering. To refuse to allow the Spirit to use me in my sufferings--to refuse to surrender to His will--is to make an idol of what I think my life should be--an idol that makes it impossible for the others to which He sends me to see any glimpse of Him in my life. On my knees in surrender to His love and His will is the only way to convince the world of His love for them. The only way to lift Him up and bring others to His eternal love. There is no other way to fulfill the prayer we sing: "I would be like Jesus."