Give to the Winds Thy Fears

"We can draw no deadlines for God. He hastens or He delays as He sees fit. 

And His timing is all-loving toward His children."

~John Piper

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I had mentioned some time ago that sadness has been my second skin. Well, it's still with me. It's not that there aren't many moments of joy. There are. Who could live with these nine delightful children and be void of any joy? Even more, who can meditate on what Christ has done, on His amazing redemption of us, and not rejoice? But, that sadness, that darkness, is still hanging around. Perhaps only those who've experienced this know what I mean.

This morning I was reading again in 1 Corinthians how we're to run this race for the prize. We're to beat our bodies into submission. Such encouragement this is! Too often Satan whispers that life shouldn't be so hard. How untrue! Every day we struggle. Every day we battle something...worries, fears, our own besetting sins.

Right now, I'm simply overwhelmed, by the sadness, by my own flesh, by a host of "little things." I can't focus. I can't even seem to complete a thought, which is one reason any posts shared here are quite sporadic, and why my poor children are learning to interpret "that thingy" quite well. "Clairesy, please get...um...that thingy." Did I mention I'm absent-minded, too? Last night I misplaced my Kindle, and I was sure I had put it in the oven or the freezer. Thankfully, I was wrong.

Everything I do requires conscious effort and will, akin to having to remind myself how to put one foot in front of the other. At end of the day, I praise God for every ounce of grace He's given me just to get done what I've gotten done, as I quietly struggle to squash the thought, "It's still not enough..." But the good news is that there's lots of fight in me. By His grace, my boxing gloves are on, His mercies are new every morning, and He's working every bit of sadness for my good and His glory.

Today I plunged myself into Piper's When the Darkness Will Not Lift and came across this gem. Maybe it will encourage you, too. And if you think of it, I'd be so blessed to have you pray for me.

Give to the Winds Thy Fears

by Paul Gerhardt (1656), translated by John Wesley

Give to the winds thy fears, 

Hope and be undismayed. 

God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, 

God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves and clouds and storms, 

He gently clears thy way; 

Wait thou His time; so shall this night 

Soon end in joyous day.

Far, far above thy thought,

His counsel shall appear, 

When fully He the work hath wrought, 

That caused thy needless fear.

Leave to His sovereign sway 

To choose and to command; 

So shalt thou, wondering, own that way, 

How wise, how strong this hand.

With love,

Trisha