Daily Digest #19

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. —Psalm 51:12

I don't know why, but the passage today reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3....

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

I guess it's trying to tell me that it is ok not to be ok sometimes... We are often disheartened by trials that all we see is pain, loneliness, heartache and injustice. It really doesn't matter which of these happen to settle in our hearts. What matters most is how we react to these emotions. We sometimes lose faith because our wishes were not granted, a loved one abandoned us, or other people were cruel to us. We blame others, or even God for bearing such a heavy load. But what comfort it is to feel His presence during these trying times! The more hardships we experience, the more we need to get ourselves closer to God. It is God's way of reminding us that He is always in control, that we need to remain faithful to Him. The wise say hardship is a state of mind, and I agree. Because hardship with God is never hard at all... for he carries the load for us once we lift it up to Him. He knows our wishes and pains even when we don't say. He is always trying to teach us something. It is not about learning to calm the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

May we pray for patience and a clean heart so that our faith is renewed. May we learn to pray "Thy will be done" for He knows everything and will never lead us elsewhere but towards Him. May we be reminded of His love and grace at all times.