relief
Ever since my last blog post I have found myself still struggling with coming to a place where I can say, “It Is Well”... even when I don’t feel like everything is well.
Sure, there are “pockets” of time where I have felt like I could say “It Is Well with my soul…” But, lately there has been a deep wrestling in my heart.
I realized that what I have been longing for is change.
a break.
relief.
simple.
See, in my finite perspective {ha!} I have it all figured out…
I would take away all the things that hurt or burn. Quite honestly, I would remove death and grief and everything that makes us sad and breaks our hearts. Who wouldn’t?
Don’t get me wrong – I totally get that God uses these things to bring us to a deeper understanding of His beautiful character and unfailing love…
but, when I’m gazing on this idea of relief from the pressure – my ideal looks pretty sweet.
Can you relate?
It finally hit me yesterday as I sat listening to a sermon on grief.
As long as my desire for relief is greater than my desire for God, I will never be in a place where “It is well with my soul”.
There it is…
Thank you Pastor Jerry.
Do you long to be able to say from the inside-out-bottom-of-your-very-being that It Is Well? No matter what comes your way?
Instead of asking God to remove the circumstances that I don’t find comfortable… or are just plain painful, I’m just starting to recognize that I have a choice. I can gaze on my unwanted STUFF and wish it would just. go. away.
OR… I can fix my eyes on Jesus and choose to press into all the truths I know about Him and His deep, deep love.
You know – the kind of love that surpasses all understanding…
the kind of love that sacrifices and dies for you love…
the kind of love that wants the very best abundant life-giving life for you…
Finding the “It Is Well” life can’t be found gazing at the things I see around me.
Nope… It isn’t about what I see.
Brings me back to Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings… In all your ways acknowledge [get to know, desire] Him and He will make your paths straight.”
I have found that during my saddest times if I just start to praise him for who he is I become filled with an unexplainable peace. Our focus shifts to him, who is good all the time. Then we can say it is well with my soul. Unfortunately it’s like working out. It’s not a one and done it’s a constant turning our affection towards him.
YES. Thanks Amy!
Reminds me of Philippians 4:6-9…
Turning to gratitude and naming what we are thankful for – then choosing to dwell on whatever is right, whatever if pure, whatever is excellent, whatever is of good repute… the promise when we dwell on these? PEACE. And a peace that will guard our hearts and minds.