Blessing in Him

Yes, it is a recurring theme for me- perhaps for you. 

I wrestle with how life  'out to be', and it's reality- and I find myself getting discouraged. 

Yesterday, I was meditating on Scripture- and trying to sort things out in my mind again... The Truth is- life, in and of itself, disappoints; my expectations built on wishes, disappoints... But- only the Person of Jesus Christ, only in Him is true blessing...only He does not disappoint.

At times I get things mixed up- in that I believe that surely God will have something work out in my life a certain way- wishing for relief, non-complication, an 'easy button', something just fall into place...but over the past few years- this has not been the case.

Now mind you-  there is plenty for which to be thankful as well- and we do thank Him for those things, but these don't nullify the weight of so many other things that just slog us down... 

This is different than being 'thankful'- in that for me, the verbiage is attached to 'things and people' for which I've counted as being good and helpful...bringing a gladness....  Where I need to go is deeper, into joy- found only in Him-- irregardless of circumstances or people... 

I'm at least seeing I need to get there- and moving that direction more...but I am still in process.... I need to move even beyond 'thank You God for such-and-such and so-and-so', which are still of value...but deeper-  into:  Oh God of Glory- thank You for Who You Are- not for what You can give me- but just Who You Are--  Grace, Mercy, Justice, Creator, Mighty, All Powerful... 

Seems if I look around (which I do not recommend doing, but my humanity is showing)- I look and am amazed at how 'easily' things seem to fall into place for ungracious people...I rejoice with them, but can't help marvel...as we work at things, only to have 'odd' thing come up that 'rob us' from what we perceive to be good for us...  We trust in the Object of our Faith to be working out something more marvelous than we were aiming for-- but discouragement does keep poking at us... 

Came across this evening devotional (May 28th) by Sprugeon-  I think he puts some of this eloquently on the page...
"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope." --Lamentations 3:21

"Memory is frequently the bondslave of despondency. Despairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this.
 
Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. 

Thus it was in Jeremiah's experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: "My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me"; and now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope." Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and then slew his despair with the other. 

As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort.

There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime.

 Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to rehearse His deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection which is so richly illuminated with memorials of mercy, and we shall soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, "the bosom-spring of joy," and when the Divine Comforter bends it to His service, it may be chief among earthly comforters".



How are you doing today Beloved?  May you find your heart encouraged in knowing the One Who Never Changes is your Living Hope-  We need not search further than our hearts and His Word... May we rest in that encouragement- May He make the encouragement palpable...

Blessings-