The Sun May Not be Out Today, but God is at Work
The rain is pounding on the roof. I can hear it splashing out the gutters. It seems so cold and dark right now, I don’t want to get out of the blankets. Two weeks ago, I had to say goodbye to my husband. He died from Leukemia twelve days after our 35th wedding anniversary. I have lived more of my life with him than without him. He was a wonderful man who loved the Lord. I miss him. A lot. In fact, I am not too sure if it’s that rather than the rain that makes me want to stay where I am under the covers. We all know that storms come to every life sooner or later, but this is not one I would have chosen. This is not where I want to be.
But as I lie here, God reminds me of what He said in Psalm 84:5-7:
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.”
I know He is speaking to me because the “Valley of Baca” means the “Valley of Weeping” and surely that is where I am right now. But God assures me that as I trust in His strength to get me through and as I set my mind on this holy journey with Him, though the road will take me through the valley of weeping I will not dwell there. This is a valley I will “pass through.” Just as the rain outside my window will eventually give way to sunshine, so too this weeping will pass – in time.
As I read on in the Psalm I am intrigued by the promise that I can make even this place a spring … a place that the Living Water of God flows from! This storm in my life can provide pools to quench the thirsty and together we can “go from strength to strength” as we journey on to eventually stand in His presence!
Just as rain is necessary for plants to grow, I need to be able to see God at work in this – bringing abundant new life not in spite of it, but actually because of it! Lord, help me to find this to be a spring where Your Holy Spirit wells up in my life. Let the water of Your Word drench this ground so that others may drink from your water of life too! Take me from strength to strength as I hold to the truth that ultimately, we will all stand in your presence and my beloved husband has just gone there ahead of me.
The sun may not be out today, but God is at work; and I know according to Romans 8:28 that in His hand “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Lord, as I get up and move forward through this day, let your purposes be fulfilled in my life in a way that will bring blessing to others!
Michele
But as I lie here, God reminds me of what He said in Psalm 84:5-7:
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.”
I know He is speaking to me because the “Valley of Baca” means the “Valley of Weeping” and surely that is where I am right now. But God assures me that as I trust in His strength to get me through and as I set my mind on this holy journey with Him, though the road will take me through the valley of weeping I will not dwell there. This is a valley I will “pass through.” Just as the rain outside my window will eventually give way to sunshine, so too this weeping will pass – in time.
As I read on in the Psalm I am intrigued by the promise that I can make even this place a spring … a place that the Living Water of God flows from! This storm in my life can provide pools to quench the thirsty and together we can “go from strength to strength” as we journey on to eventually stand in His presence!
Just as rain is necessary for plants to grow, I need to be able to see God at work in this – bringing abundant new life not in spite of it, but actually because of it! Lord, help me to find this to be a spring where Your Holy Spirit wells up in my life. Let the water of Your Word drench this ground so that others may drink from your water of life too! Take me from strength to strength as I hold to the truth that ultimately, we will all stand in your presence and my beloved husband has just gone there ahead of me.
The sun may not be out today, but God is at work; and I know according to Romans 8:28 that in His hand “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Lord, as I get up and move forward through this day, let your purposes be fulfilled in my life in a way that will bring blessing to others!
Michele
Posted in Grief
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