Sorrow.....

I read something in my daily "Streams in the Desert" devotional that really struck a cord in me. It was about sorrow. You see sorrow is something I know about. Having lost my 18 year old sister and my 22 year old husband of 7+ months all in a 3 month period of time back in 1986. It left me in a constant state of sorrow for a long time. Sometimes I still feel sorrow and hurt over it, but in a much different way today than I did back then.

You see sorrow has changed me, but so much for the better. Not that I would have ever asked to have gone through any of that, for that matter couldn't have even imagined it before it happened. It was hard. Very hard.

But God is so good, and knows my heart. He knew it then, sinful girl full of sorrow and doubt, and He knows it today, a girl filled with love for her Savior, still feeling sorrow sometimes, but it only points me back to the foot of the cross and all my Savior did for me. Amazing!!!

I read this today:

"Sorrow is God's tool to plow the depths of the soul, that it may yield richer harvests. If humankind were still in a glorified state, having never fallen, then the strong floods of divine joy would be the force God would use to reveal our souls' capacities. But in a fallen world, sorrow, yet with despair removed, is the power chosen to reveal us to ourselves. Accordingly, it is sorrow that causes us to take the time to think deeply and seriously."

I found that to be so true in my own life. Sorrow definitely revealed me to myself, and it was NOT pretty. It took time, but God has used that sorrow to draw me unto Himself in such a beautiful way. He is still using it, and I suspect will until He takes me home. That tender time in my life shaped me, molded me if you will, and has helped me to become the woman I am today, although at times, I still feel very much a girl. I am a work in progress.

My devotional goes on to say:

"Sorrow makes us move more slowly and considerately and examine our motives and attitudes. It opens within us the capacities of the heavenly life, and it makes us willing to set ou capacities afloat on a limitless sea of service for God and for others."

That is so true of sorrow. It has made me move more slowly and considerately and deliberately, I might add, and has definitely made me examine my own motives. And that, my friends, is a good thing. I can always use to examine my own motives. Why am I really doing something?

The last sentence in the above quote is where I find myself today. I have been in a season of sorrow for sometime over a loved one. One that I want so desperately to come back to the foot of the cross and find all his longings and desires filled there. No one can fill us up like the Lord and that starts at the cross.

This current season of sorrow for me is now opening me up to that "limitless sea of service for God and for others", and my heart is so happy. Out of my sorrow I am able to Bless others with a kind word or deed, because of Christ in me the hope of Glory!!! It is a beautiful thing!! And isn't that what it is all about? Giving a cup of cold water in Jesus' Name. Being the hands and feet of our Savior in this current disspensation of Grace?

I'm afraid in this current season of sorrow, I have not always done that. I spent some time in reflection and some time in the city of pity, but today I am following my God to higher heights and deeper depths, because I just MUST know more about Him. Do you ever feel that way? Like you will burst if you don't get to the Word and learn more about He who loves you so? I hope you do. If not, pray that God will kindle that desire in your heart. He is faithful dear one, and He will do it.

Thanks so much for visiting with me today.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth."