God's Garden in the Troubles of this Life

This morning I stayed in bed...overwhelmed with some aspects of my life that are very troubling and discouraging to me. I spent two hours thinking and thinking...hoping to fall asleep again...but continuing to think and pray...seeking God's perspective. Wearily singing "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" brought me to tears.

Many things ahead in this day will require me to be refreshed and renewed to be able to care for others, listen to the pain in others' hearts, and be able to be real with people in, hopefully, hopeful ways. But this life is hard, and I just want to run away. Faced with some "Why me?" questions in myself, I began to pray that my tears would not remain tears of self-pity. I know God is planting seeds in me, and in each member of my family, and in those around me. My prayer is that my tears would, instead, water God's beautiful, wonderfully-planned garden. He has a plan for me for good and not for calamity (Jeremiah 19.11). Digging up fallow ground in my life and pulling out the weeds prepares me for His seeds, but digging up the fallow ground and pulling weeds in those nearby also disturbs my own safe, secure space. Once the seeds go in the ground, then the rain comes...

Listen to these words from a song by Third Day called "When the Rain Comes":

When the rain comes
it seems that everyone has gone away
When the night falls
you wonder if you shouldn't find someplace
To run and hide
Escape the pain
But hiding's such a lonely thing to do

I can't stop the rain
From falling down on you again
I can't stop the rain
But I will hold you 'til it goes away

When the rain comes
you blame it on the things that you have done
When the storm fades
you know that rain must fall on everyone
Rest awhile
it'll be alright
No one loves you like I do
When the rain comes
I will hold you"


Eventually, there will be beautiful fruit from those well-prepared and well-nourished seeds. For now, I will rest in the "Power of Your Love"...check it out by Rebecca St. James:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8LWGyuyny4

"Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I've found in You
And Lord I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love

Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your spirit leads me on
By the Power of Your love

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see you face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As you live in me
And Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
By the Power of Your love

Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
By the power of Your love"