Today's study is entitled, "Give Thanks in Sorrow." The readings were Psalm 31:1-24, Psalm 34:18, and Psalm 56:8.
My favorite verse from the readings was verse 24 of Psalm 31, "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord."
I love this because first it's a command, be strong. Even if we don't have anymore strength left we can trust that God will be our strength and hold us up. Second, it shows us that being courageous means taking action. Even if we don't feel like we have enough courage, we are being courageous by taking that first step and going for it. And I love how it ends the verse with, wait for the Lord. Not wait for your perfect time, not wait until the stars align, but just wait on the Lord.
I also loved when the author said, "Allow Him to work in your sorrow, friends, even - and especially- when it's muted."
Right now I'm sorrowful about my marriage. Zach and I have had a few bumps but as long as we're together we get through anything. Now we're not together. We can't have a normal conversation, we can't see each other, and we can't touch each other. I see this as a huge barrier to our marriage growing, or us growing closer together, during this entire year. I see this deployment as a stumbling block for our great marriage and it scares me and if I think about it to long sorrow overtakes me.
I'm glad she put it the way she did, "Allow Him to work in your sorrow." As I feel sorrowful at times I need to remember that God can still work through me if I allow Him to. If I just hand the sorrow over to Him and say "Here, I don't have an answer so will you please take this from me?" After we hand it over to Him we can shine brighter for Him without anything dulling us down.
What were your thoughts? Have you allowed Him to work through your sorrows?
Much Love,
Ashley
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