Now I am happy, not because you were made sad, but because your sorrow made you change your lives. You became sad in the way God wanted you to, so you were not hurt by us in any way. The kind of sorrow God wants makes people change their hearts and lives. This leads to salvation, and you cannot be sorry for that. But the kind of sorrow the world has brings death. See what this sorrow—the sorrow God wanted you to have—has done to you: It has made you very serious. It made you want to restore yourselves. It made you angry and afraid. It made you want to see me. It made you care. It made you want to do the right thing. In every way you have regained your innocence.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11 (New Century Version)
There is a sorrow that hurts deep.
It's often a grieving over something we've done or said, or something that left unintended harm. It is not the superficial and momentary sorrow of the world, but a "godly" sorrow, a work of the Spirit that leads us to repentance. A conviction of the Holy Spirit that's dawning weighs heavy; an overwhelming burden and a cumbersome yoke.
It's cry is of desperation...it's need so great, only Jesus can meet.
In the desert wasteland of our grief, broken and undone, we humbly cry out for just a drop of life, of love, of forgiveness, of consolation for that which we cannot "undo." We can only beg for mercy, implore forgiveness and abandon ourselves to the only One who can pardon and grant our souls rest. Deeply distressed, our flesh preferring to avoid the feeling of exceedingly great sadness, we resist before we succumb, knowing that the will of the Father that has begun involves walking a difficult road, but we must journey it none the less, until it's work is complete.
It is in this chasm of sorrow between our need and His meeting thereof, that we are led to repentance. A place where our eyes meet the eyes of an innocent Savior on a cross and our spirit is overcome with the realization that our own human failings have put Him there. It is a moment that pierces our soul. In our resignation, He comes. We feel unworthy of His kindness; His gentle lifting of our head and healing of our heart. He forgives and the burden is lifted. In this experience we are changed by the power of love and forgiveness. We are given rest, newness of life and another chance to live it right and true.
The darkness has turned to light. The storm clouds have cleared. Received and relieved, we dust off our knees and discover we can stand.
We are the same, but we are different. Our heart is enlarged and our understanding of the depths of His love has been stretched; painfully so...yet granting room for a greater filling, a greater capacity now from which to understand and express his grace, mercy and undying love.
Heavenly Father,
Forgive us for preferring instant relief from our sorrows. The kind that the world offers in comments like "Shake it off," and "Don't give it another thought."
Forgive us for desiring to avoid pain and thus preventing ourselves from experiencing You to the degree we so fiercely claim to desire.
Forgive us for always wanting something at no cost to ourselves.
Forgive us for thinking knowledge of You is equivalent to experiencing You.
For if we only knew how often You knocked and we didn't open the door; You invited and we declined; You came near and we rejected...we might actually be sorry, truly sorry.
For if we only knew...if we only allowed ourselves to be truly sorry for the things we do or don't do...we would be different and the changes in us would transform the world.
Thank You that in Your supreme goodness and kindness, You have clearly shown us that which produces repentance and leads to salvation.
For we are in need of Your salvation each and every day.
May we not despise the manner through which it comes, but be open and broken to receive the greatest gift and may we bear fruits worthy of it's transforming work in us.
In Jesus' Name We Pray,
Amen
In the desert wasteland of our grief, broken and undone, we humbly cry out for just a drop of life, of love, of forgiveness, of consolation for that which we cannot "undo." We can only beg for mercy, implore forgiveness and abandon ourselves to the only One who can pardon and grant our souls rest. Deeply distressed, our flesh preferring to avoid the feeling of exceedingly great sadness, we resist before we succumb, knowing that the will of the Father that has begun involves walking a difficult road, but we must journey it none the less, until it's work is complete.
It is in this chasm of sorrow between our need and His meeting thereof, that we are led to repentance. A place where our eyes meet the eyes of an innocent Savior on a cross and our spirit is overcome with the realization that our own human failings have put Him there. It is a moment that pierces our soul. In our resignation, He comes. We feel unworthy of His kindness; His gentle lifting of our head and healing of our heart. He forgives and the burden is lifted. In this experience we are changed by the power of love and forgiveness. We are given rest, newness of life and another chance to live it right and true.
The darkness has turned to light. The storm clouds have cleared. Received and relieved, we dust off our knees and discover we can stand.
We are the same, but we are different. Our heart is enlarged and our understanding of the depths of His love has been stretched; painfully so...yet granting room for a greater filling, a greater capacity now from which to understand and express his grace, mercy and undying love.
Heavenly Father,
Forgive us for preferring instant relief from our sorrows. The kind that the world offers in comments like "Shake it off," and "Don't give it another thought."
Forgive us for desiring to avoid pain and thus preventing ourselves from experiencing You to the degree we so fiercely claim to desire.
Forgive us for always wanting something at no cost to ourselves.
Forgive us for thinking knowledge of You is equivalent to experiencing You.
For if we only knew how often You knocked and we didn't open the door; You invited and we declined; You came near and we rejected...we might actually be sorry, truly sorry.
For if we only knew...if we only allowed ourselves to be truly sorry for the things we do or don't do...we would be different and the changes in us would transform the world.
Thank You that in Your supreme goodness and kindness, You have clearly shown us that which produces repentance and leads to salvation.
For we are in need of Your salvation each and every day.
May we not despise the manner through which it comes, but be open and broken to receive the greatest gift and may we bear fruits worthy of it's transforming work in us.
In Jesus' Name We Pray,
Amen
"Give me the faith to believe that your power works best in my weakness and that your grace is sufficient for all my insufficiencies" - Ken Gire
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful expression of a contrite and consecrated heart.