Beginning day 4 of no internet, no emails, no TV, no home phone. A brief thunderstorm a few days back knocked us back to the stone age, technologically speaking. And AT&T has, so far, not been able to fix it, nor been too terribly receptive to our pleas. (“No,” I want to respond to AT&T, “this is not a medical emergency that requires we have our internet restored asap, but it’s a teenager emergency and a cranky parent emergency and doesn’t that count?” Apparently not. Good heavens, what if Downton Abbey finally starts back up again with a new episode and we don’t have internet/TV/phone? I just can’t even go there.)
Add to that a few frustrations with wedding planning, some disruption and mess due to repairs and repainting, more mess in the house from all the college packing for two children. And add: still missing Moses. And add: still mourning this relentless growing up, heading off to college and emptying of our nest... Well, suffice it to say, I awoke feeling a teeny bit worn and weary.
But then the strangest thing--right as I walked into the kitchen this morning, the Lord seemed to whisper to me two different phrases: “As your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deut.33:25) And “Count it all joy.” (James 1:2)
I had just read a brief devotion to one of the boys the other day based on that wonderful verse, “As your days, so shall your strength be.” O thank You for that reminder, Father.
If we awake to a day with much to do and little energy to do it--God has the energy available to us that formed the heavens and the earth and created the giraffes and the oak trees. He maintains the orbit of the planets and the pull of gravitation. Our Lord who has infinite and always readily available strength will surely energize us to do all this day calls for us to do.
If we awaken filled with sorrow and sadness, we have a Savior who knows our every tear. He was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief...Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” (Isa.53:3-4) He will carry those burdens of sorrow and grief for us this day. Might we hand our load to our gracious Burden-Bearer.
If this day finds us empty of joy and dead to hope, He is the God of resurrection. He works best in a graveyard. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) Yes, Lord, we believe. Help Thou our unbelief. You who raised the dead, You who were raised from the dead and now sit on the throne of heaven, can You not raise our deadened spirits, revive our moribund hopes, and renew our flagging hearts? Yes, yes, He can and He will! He promises that “as your day” of defeat or discouragement or even despair goes, “so shall your strength be” sufficient to revive and renew and resurrect.
And if we awaken to a day of frustrations and petty annoyances that seem to be stealing our joy, well then, His strength is sufficient for this day’s struggles...for we are to “Count it ALL joy.”
Seriously, all those things that were snatching my peace and joy, could I not turn them around and count them all joy? Each one, when you really dig down below the exasperation, are each a blessing. Thank You, Father, for a home to live in--sure, a home that has rotten wood and weeds and non-working internet--but it’s our home filled with sweet memories and people we adore. And weddings--sure, planning can lead to some conflict and stress, but keep your focus on the joy of two dearly loved young folks brought brought together by our gracious, good Father. It’s about the love and the treasure of living this adventure of life together--with one another and with our glorious Lord. And children growing up and going away? Well, count it ALL joy. The joy of the remarkable, utterly undeserved privilege of cooperating with God in creating and raising unique and wonderful eternal souls. They may be leaving our house...but never our hearts.
So today, on this one year anniversary of Janie’s accident, I’m thankful that “As your days, so shall your strength be.” From desperate days in ICU’s to dark days of struggle or sorrow to delightful days of sunshine and weddings to every kind of day in between, He’s got the strength and love and hope and wisdom and peace and provision for whatever our day holds.
On this day of August 24th, I count it ALL joy. Every moment in that struggle in the hospital, every dear friend and family member who prayed so fervently and helped so diligently, every doctor and every nurse, every whispered prayer, every tear of sorrow and every laugh of relief, every quiet moment in the middle of the night when Jesus stayed up with Janie and with us, keeping us company, every high and every low, every moment of sinking despair and every moment of soaring hope...every single bit of it, I count and count and count the staggering blessings that God wrought out of seeming tragedy.
And I keep on counting--wedding, home, dog, children, college, weeds, mess... ALL from Him. ALL for joy. ALL by His grace. ALL for His glory. Maybe we won’t see or understand this side of heaven when it comes to every sorrow in our lives...but one glorious day we will. And then our counting will have only just begun.
To God--our infinite Source of strength and our boundless Source of joy--be all the glory.
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