2.23.2009

A Letter To A Friend…

Dearest of Friends,

At this moment my heart is overflowing with love for you. Your woes and cares are never too much for me to hear. Nothing you say would be too much. Why? Because I don’t ultimately carry your burdens for you. I pray, plead, and attempt to encourage you; but, I can never fix your problems. As much as I want to snap my fingers and make life better, it’s not up to me. It is in the hands of Another. And this brings me great joy. I can look at your afflictions and be at peace. This peace is not because I do not care, no this peace is because I know He cares. The One who holds the Universe in His hand. The One that keeps the earth on it’s axis. The One who causes rain to fall from the sky and keeps my heart beating. This is the very One Who is weaving together the events of your life. Right now it looks like the biggest mess, but that is because the tapestry of your life is directly in front of you. The Great Weaver has the master plan. He is standing back and sees the entire design. It is a beautiful thing in His eyes. Not only is your life in His grasp, but everything He is doing is for your good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I know, right now that verse isn’t ringing true. Everything in you wants to say that it is a lie. It can’t possibly be true…how is this mess good? How can it ever be for your good? But, remember, you’re looking at a tangled mess of thread. You’re looking at the events that are taking place today. He sees what will happen next year. He knows what will happen in ten years. What is agony now will be loving kindness in the years to come. There will be a day when you look back on this time and weep in gratitude. There will be a day (even if it is in Heaven), when this affliction WILL make sense.

I can have peace, because I know that your greatest problem has been solved. You were running as fast as you could for hell. You hated God and wanted nothing to do with Him. But, in His amazing mercy, God snatched you from your hell-bound race and saved your soul. If He loves you that much, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you will be okay. He loves you so much more than I ever will. He cares for your soul enough to kill His Son for you. He loves you so much that He grabbed your rebellious heart (and it was rebellious with an attitude!!!) and showered it with His irresistible love. If He would do this, He will take care of you. He will not give you more than you can handle.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

That is a promise. God does not lie. Even though it seems too much, it isn’t. He will be your source of strength and help. He is all you need. He is your comfort. He is your rock. He is your hiding place. He is the Lover of your soul.

Know that I’m here for you, whenever you need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Know that I am praying for you. Know that I love you! And more importantly, know that He loves you and He is holding you.

Let me end with a couple of Scriptures. I pray these encourage your soul…

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

:) that was encouraging. thanks.