"Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup, and have made my lot secure."
I once read this verse with only the positive, happy parts of my life in mind. It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was writing about the guilt-laced "why me?" of having things going really well in my life while others were suffering. God was gracious to remind me of the blessing of resting in what Beth Moore refers to as the "sunshine of my soul's Sabbath." How I appreciate that precious season of getting rested up and filled up in preparation for what is to come!
Recently, I have been thinking Psalm 16:5 through the lens of major life happenings in multiple lives that are connected to mine.
I have considered it as I have watched my husband burdened by the demands of his job...not just the 14-18 hour days, but the emotional toll of caring about your patients and their families as they walk through difficult medical problems.
This verse has been on my heart as I have reflected on the timing of our friendships with various people and how God ordained our lives to intersect at various seasons.
I have also pondered my place in life right now...unemployed, but called to invest in the lives around me. I am realizing more and more that the business I am in--relationships--means bearing a lot of burdens. These heavy loads are matters of prayer, friendship and the heart...and recently I realized that bearing these types of 'burdens' is actually far more of blessing than a burden.
Does it bring tears? Yes, of course. But, truly, it brings a type of blessing I never could have understood without experiencing it. "Doing life" within the loving support of the body of believers is a glimpse of true life.
I have considered it as I have watched my husband burdened by the demands of his job...not just the 14-18 hour days, but the emotional toll of caring about your patients and their families as they walk through difficult medical problems.
This verse has been on my heart as I have reflected on the timing of our friendships with various people and how God ordained our lives to intersect at various seasons.
I have also pondered my place in life right now...unemployed, but called to invest in the lives around me. I am realizing more and more that the business I am in--relationships--means bearing a lot of burdens. These heavy loads are matters of prayer, friendship and the heart...and recently I realized that bearing these types of 'burdens' is actually far more of blessing than a burden.
Does it bring tears? Yes, of course. But, truly, it brings a type of blessing I never could have understood without experiencing it. "Doing life" within the loving support of the body of believers is a glimpse of true life.
I am reminded that when we are resting in a sabbath period it is from God's hands. Likewise, when we are squarely in the midst of trials and challenges, I believe, that too has passed through His Hands.
Thank you, God, for this portion and cup. Find me willing to accept the assignment You have given me. I am able only because You have indeed made my lot secure.
7 comments:
So true...a great post
Can I tell you how your blessing/burden is such a blessing to me? I have been encouraged by your big God comments in previous posts.
You were on my mind when I read an update from a dear friend of ours that has lived with Multiple Myeloma for more years than she should considering her diagnosis at the beginning of her journey. She began this last study as a last ditch effort since she had stopped responding to the previous drugs.
Her update today was that her doctor told her yesterday that she is in partial complete remission! None of us even prayed for that. We just prayed for time. Time with her children and husband. What we got was enough time and enough studies that one of them worked for her. No one can get past the God part of this. All I could write her was...We have a Big God!
My continued prayers for your family and your friends.
Thank you so much for this verse! It was much needed - not only for me, but for my sister. She is currently on her way to Montgomery (AL) where her 3rd boy is being transferred to the hospital. He was born 5 weeks early and is having trouble breathing on his own. The crazy thing - they went through roughly this same thing a short 20 months ago with her 2nd little boy. I know this is so random, and I am such a blog stalker, but I had to tell you how much I and ultimately my sister needed to hear this verse. Thank you so much.
This goes right along with the way I have been feeling lately. I posted a similar post just recently and read a sermon by John Piper you should read/listen to that speaks about how people going through tough situations can be such a huge blessing to those of us, who for this time, are in "the sunshine of our soul's sabbath".
-R
What a blessing this was to me today. The Lord showed me something clearly I think he has been trying to get across to me for a while.
I know you are quite busy already but you really should write a book. Thanks for your interpretation of that and your wonderful posts! :)
A friend just sent me a link to your blog, as this post is EXACTLY what she and I were talking about this weekend. Thank you so much for writing about this. Your words are beautiful.
We found out this past Thursday that my husband is cancer free, and even though we are OVERJOYED and so thankful, it is hard not to think about all of the people we have met during this journey who don't have such great news and feel guilty.
But you put it so aptly- this season of life is God given, be it good or bad. We are going to soak up the good and enjoy every single moment of it.
So excited to have found your blog!
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