Dark Days Beget the Dawn!

Are you bitter about the “various trials” that happen from time to time? I am. I am because I forget they have purpose. I’m not necessarily saying love the trials. But rather love the result of the trials. Long for the result of the trials. As a follower of Christ, all that happens to us is worked out for good! Longings and anticipations are needed in our life. Where would you be right now without them? If you are a follower of Christ you should be longing for his coming. What would that coming be like if there were no longing? How would Christmas be without Advent? Easter without Palm Sunday? These longings, trials, and dark days are serving a purpose in our life. Here are a couple journal entries that I pray will encourage you. Can you imagine where you would be and what you would do if you knew the date of Christ’s coming?

Friday, March 15, 2013

Life is fragile. We can have it “together” one minute and the next it is “falling apart.” I write today from the “together” side. It’s not often that I write about depression on a day that I’m not depressed. But it is fitting to do so because it may encourage me some day soon–or later. The Lord uses them. He brings me through tough times (undetermined length from our perspective; determined exactly by His perspective). May His grace be sufficient.

 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The longing to preach/pastor will be all the more sweet when it happens because of the longing. So too, our longing for the coming of Christ will be exceedingly sweet if indeed we have longed for his coming. Anticipation is built into our lives as part of  the consummation. We see it in Advent-Christmas, Palm Sunday-Easter. The anticipation is as much needed as the end. So also, our daily struggles cause us to long for his coming like one who is stuck in a long winter longing for spring. Dark days beget the dawn. One day he will come! Cherish the longing for the Bridegroom will satisfy! 

James 5:7-8   7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.