An attempt to declare the Glory of God for what He has chosen to do with our lives. A legacy to leave to my children in the telling of it.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Pure Joy

Photo by Grace


Pure joy. Those two words are pounding through my head this morning as I fight to keep eternity in perspective. God tells his children to consider trials pure joy because they test our faith, and in the end, the man who perseveres under trial will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:3 &12).

I remind myself that this agonizing pain of missing a son is pure joy. It is a constant battle between flesh and soul. One, I believe, that is a gift to fight. One that most days I would trade in a heart beat just to have one more hug, one more sunrise with a teenage boy walking down the stairs saying “Good morning, Mom,” one more night of sharing my cheese puffs. But Scripture calls it pure joy in its perfect, conforming, eternal benefiting form of chiseling my hands off of the temporary, shallow way of living that I used to indulge in.

"Sometimes the devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn't want them turning to God. Their sin is like a jail cell, except it is all nice and comfy and there doesn't seem to be any reason to leave. The door's wide open. Till one day, time runs out, and the cell door slams shut, and suddenly it's too late." (Quote from the movie God's Not Dead. Haven't seen it? Go see it!)

I realized, again, that doctrine is not a substitute for God. I've concluded, after days if not weeks of unintentionally replacing my Savior with other comforts as innocent as my own beliefs, that God wants us to be satisfied with Him. Not who we think He is, or who our pet doctrines make Him out to be, but to find our complete satisfaction in who He really is. To behold Him in His glory as we stand in awe of Him; simply Him. Stripped of our preconceived ideas and merely loving our Creator. Melting in His holy presence and crawling into His lap to be held as a child, knowing that He has this all under control. 

Sometimes I wonder how something so majestic can be so easy.



3 comments:

Dicky Bird said...

Yes, go see the movie! I love that part of the movie where the mom gives that quote! So true about sin like a jail cell. I'm thankful for the trials He place in my life to make me want to get out of my cell and repent. Sin tempts us daily. Paul said "I die daily.." The simplicity of it - salvation - being a gift - beautiful! We must expect the fields to be ripe for the picking, in the last days - many "jail inmates." Lord help us to be sensitive to calling of your Holy Spirit. Keep up the great posts!

OurCrazyFarm said...

Dicky Bird~ you are such a blessing to me. I am so glad that God has placed you as an encourager in my life:)

Sherry Sutherby http://russ-stickacres.blogspot.com/ said...

Oh you ladies...it is so joyful to see the comments. As for the post...yes, He is enough. And I'd rather have the trials than to be safe and cozy in a cell. (I haven't seen the movie...but thank you for the visual!). Also, beautiful photo...of Alexis, and by Grace.