Monday July 13, 2009
FROM PAIN TO PRAISE "I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God's fury. God has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. He beat me again and again all day long. He has made my flesh and my skin waste away. He has broken my bones. He has attacked me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me live in darkness, like those who died a long time ago. He has blocked me so that I can't get out. He has put heavy chains on me. Even when I cry and call for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my way with cut stones and made my paths crooked... I have become a laughingstock to all my people. All day long they make fun of me with their songs. He has filled me with bitterness. He has made me drink wormwood. He has ground my teeth with gravel. He has trampled me into the dust. My soul has been kept from enjoying peace. I have forgotten what happiness is. I said, 'I've lost my strength to live and my hope in the LORD.' Remember my suffering and my aimless wandering, the wormwood and poison. My soul continues to remember these things and is so discouraged. The reason I can still find hope is that I keep this one thing in mind: the LORD's mercy. We were not completely wiped out. His compassion is never limited. It is new every morning. His faithfulness is great. My soul can say, 'The LORD is my lot in life. That is why I find hope in him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to anyone who seeks help from him. It is good to continue to hope and wait silently for the LORD to save us." Lamentations 3:1-9, 14-26 According to history, Jeremiah once held a place of honor in the Temple. However, when he began to be obedient to the Lord, rather than going along with his peers, he discovered that the life of a prophet is not applauded. Jeremiah talked and walked with God. He was obedient to every message God gave him for the people. He never once received applause from the people he spoke with - quite the opposite. He was put in wells and was badly mistreated. Can you relate? Jeremiah knew that God was in control. He is called the "weeping prophet" because he was brave enough to record his frustration and pain. Go back and reread today's passage. Somewhere in this list of painful experiences is probably something you have experienced. Haven't you felt like God has placed a brick wall in your path from time to time? Maybe you have felt the bitter sting of having people make fun of you. Maybe you have lost everything you own and felt filled with bitterness. Well, hear the promise of God through Jeremiah's groaning; we can get past the pain into praise and gain a fresh perspective. Roger and I have lived through many tests. I can't begin to tell you all that we went through, but know this - bitterness was at the root of much of it. With all the stress surrounding custody of the grandbabies and some lies that were told about me that came from who knows where, it was just too much for me, and I became far too angry and I let that anger consume me. However, Great is God's faithfulness! His mercies are fresh every morning - this is worth repeating - as I'm sure you've notice I've done. He does not remember our sins! He washes us with the oil of hope. However, there is a stipulation - we must wait on Him and seek Him daily. We cannot push into the future without His hand doing the pushing. I have tasted the bitterness Jeremiah speaks of. People have made fun of me. I have even been asked to leave a church (or 2). However, I've never been put into a well - yet! Although I have felt like I was in a hole once or twice, praise God He brought me through. Oh, Lord, please allow us a moment of honesty. Then, Lord, grant us those fresh mercies and please move us past the pain into praise! A Time To Mend O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger? OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
