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Right?
Like the fact that the job I’m in has never been an easy one
or one I’ve absolutely loved, but looking over my shoulder to where I started,
I can see where I have changed and matured in the position I’m in.
Or the fact that the last week I have spent fighting the need
to wait and the struggle against patience and am now crawling out of that hole
I found myself in and realizing this
is my ground of proving.
Why can’t a time of proving ever be easy? Why does it so
often have to include tears and claw marks and despair when all we want is to
get to the other side of this battle and see the horizon on the opposite of the
storm clouds?
The solution is, that none of the tears or despair or claw
marks, have to be part of the problem if your heart is fallow ground, ready for
the planting of the solution.
I’m a bottler. I bottle my emotions. I bottle my thoughts and
keep them to myself. But not just from other friends and family, but I do the
same from God.
Okay, stop laughing. Yes, I know good and well that God
already knows what is going on in my heart, but when I try to keep it from Him,
all I get is a soul full of heartache. But when I keep my heart and my thoughts
and my prayers aligned with where I am right now and when I express my emotions to a Creator who
loves me, I find a settling in my spirit that was never there when I tried to
keep it all to myself.
Human bottling is only for the tears that God keeps on a
shelf—not a single one is forgotten. I like to think He does the same for our
dreams and desires. Bottling is not for the emotions that fester and wound our
spirit. Those aren’t going to go away on their own and hanging onto them is
only a handhold for the devil to swing from.
Hindsight is perfect. It’s that crystal clear vision I wish
we could have now instead of the murky depths I so often feel as though I’m
looking in to. So what I learned this week? It’s not the secreting that
protects my heart: it’s the unveiling to the Lover of my heart. There is
nothing quite so purifying as baring it all to the One who loves me most.
I don't comment often, but would like to offer what I hope are words of encouragement. I truly enjoy your devotional posts and posts like this one. They make me think and offer encouragement to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, MaryAnn. I appreciate your sweetness and taking the time to comment on this post. :)
DeleteGreat post, Casey! You know what this makes me think of...a Casting Crowns song. Somewhere in the Middle.
ReplyDeleteHere's the lyrics:
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who you're making me
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender
'Cause I'm losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence
Reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep-water faith in the shallow end
We are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences
The God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His
Or are we caught in the middle?
Are we caught in the middle?
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and the Lord
Somewhere between the altar and the door
[From: http://www.elyrics.net]
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender
'Cause I'm losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence
Reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep-water faith in the shallow end
We are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences
The God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His
Or are we caught in the middle?
Fearless warriors in a picket fence
Reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep-water faith in the shallow end
We are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences
The God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His
Or are we caught in the middle?
Are we caught in the middle?
Lord, I feel You in this place
And I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights
When I am caught in the the middle
Caught in the middle
The part of the song I think of often for myself is: Will we trade our dreams for His? These lyrics have spoken to me many times.
I know sometimes its easy to wish we
Love you, Case!
I love this song. Casting Crowns speaks to me more times than not. Their lyrics are extremely powerful and so moving. This is my favorite section: Fearless warriors in a picket fence
DeleteReckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep-water faith in the shallow end
Boy isn't that the truth! Thanks so much for posting this today, Julia. ♥
Oh, sorry about that, I didn't know it would take up that much space :)
ReplyDeleteCasey, You are wise beyond your years and your wisdom through words ministers greatly to me. Praise the Lord you are moldable to His will! Yeah, moldable is not a word, huh? If not, it should be. :)
ReplyDeleteIf it's not, it totally should be! I use it often too...and it's what I hope to ALWAYS be under the Potter's hands. Thankful to have you as a friend, Anne, that is for sure! You encourage me many times. :)
DeleteHi, Casey!
ReplyDeleteWhy can't a time of proving ever be easy? You did, indeed, uncover part of the answer - with your post, dear Casey! It's a time of spiritual growth, & growth doesn't always come easily. We are human, & along with that, often comes a certain impatience, desire to do things our way, & a resistance to step forward & take chances - which causes that unclear vision you described. And yes, the heart has to be unveiled, & in the perfect position, in order to obtain the most joy, growth, & fulfillment, from the plans that God has for you. Praying for clear vision re: God's plans for you, Casey!