Inevitably, after a mountaintop experience with God, there will be a valley. The enemy loves to try to drag us down in the dirt of discouragement. Just had an experience like that tonight, in fact! After testifying to God’s grace in singleness just 2 weeks ago in church, the dark clouds thundered over in a veritable deluge of emotion, pain, and frustration.
But our Father is so kind, and He knows our thoughts, our fears, our loneliness, and our pain. He sees the tears we shed and feels that breathtaking ache in our heart. Christ was single, after all! He was tempted in all things just like us (Hebrews 4:15).
Yet He did not sin.
However, He did pray. Alone. Often. Set apart from the multitudes. In a quiet place.
Can we learn from Christ’s example? I think we can. God has never commanded us not to tell Him how we feel. In fact, His Word says that He is near to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18). He is the Healer, the Applier of sweet balm to our souls. His hand is one of gentleness, not of iron. He cares, and He listens to our cry. He knows how frail we are: only dust (Psalm 103:14).
But be aware of the importance of the right response.
Though we do not choose our pain, we do choose our response to that pain. And our response can make all the difference. There are 2 possible scenarios.
1) dwell on what you lack, listen to the lies of the enemy, question God’s goodness and your worth, and become bitter instead of better through the pain
2) run to God, tears streaming, yet heart praising, thankfulness outpouring for all that is yours in Christ…
…and watch God turn your tears into tears of relief and joy, even though the singleness and the pain remain.
Dear friend, God does not condemn you for struggling. Rather, He has entrusted this pain to you because He counts you worthy to bear it for His name. Those He bruises greatly, He uses greatly. He turns our mess into His message, and our weakness into His strength! You hold a precious jewel in your bruised and throbbing heart–the opportunity to experience a closeness to God that few others will ever enjoy. For when God is all you have, you find that He is all you need. As you practice the right response, you will join the ranks of Elisabeth Elliott, Darlene Diebler Rose, Hannah (biblical), Esther (biblical), and other sisters in Christ who have walked the road before you. Friend, you are not alone! You have the faithful example of others who have gone before to guide and encourage you to keep running, trusting, praying, even when it’s terribly hard and it would seem easier to give up.
Will you take the hand that bore the nail scars and walk with your Maker and gentle Master through the dark? Will you let Him drain the bitterness from you and flood you with His peace?
Even if you still wake alone tomorrow?
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3
Joyful Journey 