• Jul. 11, 2008 - Pardon me, while I share something a little more serious...
The other day I was driving in the car and heard just a few moments of some Christian radio talk show. The person was talking about how the "aches" in our lives really serve a good purpose - they remind us that this world is not our home and stir on our yearning for Heaven. Even though I just heard mere moments of the show and I don't even know what the show was or who the speaker was, those words have stuck with me.
This world is an imperfect place. It's made up of imperfect people. I think most of us have difficult relationships and situations in our lives and it's all just a matter of how much room we give God to work in them.
Some people just go passive and don't deal with them. They try to pretend that they don't bother them or that they really don't care. They emotionally check out while the ache just takes root and grows.
Some people rush to try and fix them. They almost go into hyperdrive, demanding that the situation be dealt with promptly and in the way they deem appropriate. If they can't "fix" the situation, they struggle to participate in an imperfect one.
Some people try and struggle, try and struggle. Their situations may not resolve in a pretty wrapped package, but yet they keep working through it with God's grace. Through it all they are reminded that, "All things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose."
I know that in my own life, I've had times of dealing with major issues - times when I felt unloved, tricked, deceived, misunderstood, misrepresented, forgotten, and abandoned. I felt that ache until I wondered if my heart could physically break from the pain. And while I believe that working through the pain is part of the process, here's what I've learned:
I needed to keep my eyes on my Savior and off of the situation. He always has my best interests at heart and He has a purpose in allowing the trials. He doesn't want me to go passive and just stop caring nor does He want me to demand my way in the situation - sometimes He just wants me to be and to wait on Him and His timing.
If the ache does nothing more than help me to realize the totally amazing gift of His unconditional love and His promise to never leave me nor forsake me, then the ache is ok. If the ache reminds me that He is my advocate and knows the deepest desires of my heart, then I have to be thankful for it.
The ache somehow can point me back to the One who won't go passive and give up on me or check out of my life. The ache can point me back to the One who is King of Kings, yet is patient even with one like me. The ache can point me back to the Father who welcomes home the prodigal son or the Lover who chases after their beloved.
And that ache always leaves me fully resting at the Throne of Grace - which is a good place to be. It's not always comfortable and it doesn't always look like we might imagine it, but it's the place of wholeness, where healing happens time and time again.
I'm back at that place again, dealing with some wounds and disappointments. It's always weird to me how the anniversary of my father's death seems to stir things up for me even when I'm not thinking about the date. For years, it frustrated me to continue to battle certain issues, but now I'm starting to learn to be thankful for the growth and healing that has taken place without requiring that it all look so perfect.
For now I just rest in His grace and His promises and His love for me ~ even in this imperfect world. And I continue trying and struggling and loving even when it's hard because He does that for us.
I'm sure that many of you can relate to what I'm talking about and if any of you feel led to pray for me - for strength and courage to keep on keeping on even when I'm tired, worn-out, and exhausted, I'd appreciate it. Lots of wonderful things are going on and I need to really enjoy them - even if they aren't the perfect way that I would imagine them.
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Posted by Candace 
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• Jul. 11, 2008 - I will defintley be praying for you