Joy and Purpose

Sunrise from our window

As I continued studying the Sermon on the Mount yesterday, cross-references led me to Psalm 27:4-5:

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

The phrase “all the days of my life” brought me up short. I felt aggravated about things that were out of my control. A person wanted their way, and they wouldn’t take no for an answer. So be it—they got their way, and I found it frustrating.

Though someone’s actions got on my nerves, every day I may ask the Lord if I may dwell in His house. In His presence. By the power of the Holy Spirit in me. God’s comforting presence prevailed after the conviction subsided. I drew close to Him again.

When situations and reactions force me to see my human failings, when I am reminded of my sinful nature that wants to rule (but won’t, by grace and faith), I remember my purpose. It is revealed in these verses: to see God’s beauty, to live in awareness of His presence, and seek to be closer to Him by gazing at His beauty. In her book, Revelations of Divine Love, Julian of Norwich writes, “We love our Maker and seek Him, praise Him, and thank Him, and endlessly enjoy Him.” My prayer: Lord, may I enjoy You today and all the days of my life.

Looking Back

Our son Ray at three years old

It’s been a rainy spring, but now that tulips and daffodils brighten the landscape, I count the rain a blessing. My former neighbor doesn’t think as fondly of water as she used to. In February, her apartment flooded because of a sudden winter thaw that burst the sprinkler above her. All her furniture was ruined. She recently started over, moving across the state line into a different senior apartment building, and she’s thrilled with her new digs and furniture. Last night she gave me a tour, and I celebrated with her how the Lord has provided. 

From one Bible verse to another I am reminded that God sends rain on the earth, and the result may be bad as well as good. The same plague of hail that battered Egypt helped Moses deliver the Israelites to the Promised Land—a fantastic outcome for God’s people but disaster for Pharaoh and Egypt.

In 1986, doctors discovered that our baby-to-be had hydrocephalus, a condition that could cause mental disabilities. He would face surgery immediately after birth. Talk about a rainstorm! What a scary time—we didn’t know what the future held for Ray. When they predicted he would not walk or talk, I cried and prayed. Step by uncertain step, I learned to trust the Lord through c-section delivery and each new phase of his care and growth.

Fast forward three years, and as the photo above shows, Ray could ride his rocking horse and soon would walk and run. By that age, he could argue with his big sister like any little brother. Sometimes we wished he would just be quiet—he got so talkative. He still is today.

I’m proud to say that in 2013, Ray graduated from Shepherds College www.shepherdscollege.edu. He has special needs and lives in a supported apartment. In May he starts his ninth year with a local nursery, working part-time through spring, summer, and fall.  

Looking back, my concern for Ray’s future differed greatly from reality. God sent the flood of fear and from it brought a harvest of joy beyond anything we could imagine.

 

Brighter Days

Photo by Aaron Burden on Pexels.com

Spring is taking its time here in the Midwest. Two days of 60’s temps were followed by four weeks of cool, cloudy, rainy weather. But spring is coming—it always does eventually. There’s hope in that thought, and I can’t remember a year when we didn’t finally see brighter days. As the wind howls southward, I feel like we’re hopelessly stuck in always-winter.

Can you recall a time when you felt hopeless? Join the club. Life brings ups and downs, sometimes more of the latter. God challenges us to respond to affliction in an unexpected way—by rejoicing. Romans chapter 5, verses 3-4 says “. . .we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” There’s a key to grace-filled responses as referenced earlier in the chapter, and that is faith in Jesus Christ. By His grace, we grow through hard times. Such progress is patterned as follows: suffering teaches perseverance. Perseverance produces character. From godly character, hope springs forth.

It sounds simple, but this trip from pain to hope could take days, months, or even years. It depends on our response. Let’s pray: Lord, please teach us to persevere in difficulty, knowing that we will glorify You through a joyful journey home.