3/22

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."

This morning as I sang these words at church, I sang them with great heavenly anticipation:

"Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory, glory

My soul it overflows full of your glory, your glory

Oh blessed is he who reigns, full of your glory, your glory

My cup, it can't contain all of your glory, your glory"

God currently has me in a season of life that seems to be filled with great sorrow and oftentimes, hopelessness. There are times throughout this experience where God feels so near and others when I have to fight for truth and light.

It's difficult to choose joy and is truly a battle when it seems like my circumstances offer an endless amount of sorrow and only a small helping of joy. It's difficult when it seems like I'm using all of my strength to stay afloat and I have little left to use to serve. But it's in those times of crippling weakness that I undeniably know that I am in need of a heavenly supply.

I can't wait for a day when, like the Bible says, there will be no more sorrow or weeping. But until then, I can choose to sing, not only in the absence of pain, but even while weeping.

"Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper." You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever." 

It's when I'm in the valley that I can sit beside my Savior and ask him for comfort. "He was a man acquainted with sorrows" and knows the depth of our pain. He can sympathize and comfort because he has been there and conquered it all. 

I am reminded that times of sorrow do not indicate an absence of love. In fact, it was in a time of deepest sorrow that love abounded on the cross. Thank you Lord for the suffering that lead to our redemption!