Thursday, April 11, 2013

Listening

Do you ever hear a song come on the radio, a song that you've heard a hundred times before, and actually digest the lyrics for the first time?  Happens to me all the time.  Maybe that makes me a poor listener??  Not sure.  What I do know is that it happened this past week, and I feel the need to share.

I mentioned last week that I like to listen to my local Christian radio station on the way to work in the mornings.  My commute is only about 15 minutes, so I don't get to hear much, but it always tends to start my day off right.  You know how morning radio shows are:  very little music, lots of jaw-flapping.  But, last week, I caught the song "Blessings" by Laura Story.  This is one of those songs that I had heard come on the radio many, many times before, but I had never actually taken the time to think about the lyrics and the meaning behind them.  In case you haven't heard this song before, I highly encourage you to check it out here:





The chorus is really what makes me pause...

Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

In this past few years, I feel like I've grown up a lot.  I've seen people ache and hurt in very real ways.  I've experienced loss myself.  I've watched friends bury their parents and spouses.  All of these collective situations have caused my protective "life bubble" to be popped.  I no longer live in the world that I did as a kid, where nothing bad could ever happen.  

I was asked once by a close friend why she had to experience such terrible things in her childhood, while her friends seemed untouched.  This was shortly after she accepted salvation, and she was looking for answers.  I didn't have any.

What I've come to realize since that time is that God has purpose.  He always has purpose.  That doesn't necessarily make everything "fair," but we were never promised fair.  What we were promised is that:

In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called 
according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

In the past year, I have seen beautiful, life-affirming things take place out of very dire circumstances.  I have seen God's promise of faithfulness come to fruition in many lives.  I have seen this "good" that God has promised us.  And, it's a reminder that sometimes it takes being drug through the mud to see greater things that lie ahead.  

Sometimes it's tragic life events.  Sometimes God is simply distant and aloof.  Sometimes it is relationship complications.  No matter the trial, in the end, He is always faithful.

6 comments:

  1. Nice! Along these lines, I like "Lay it Down" by Jaci Velasquez. :)

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  2. Beautiful post, Suzanne! I just love your words, and you are so right. We were never promised a fair, or easy life. My pastor recently lost his daughter, and shortly before she passed he gave a sermon. He said that for months, he couldn't hear God. He was asking Him "Why is this happening??" and was hearing nothing. And finally he realized that "Why?" is not the question we should be asking. God doesn't say "Have no fear, because I will give you the answers." But countless times throughout the Bible, He DOES say "Have no fear, for I WILL BE WITH YOU." And THAT is worth clinging to, the promise that God will always be with us.

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  3. So I'm sitting here, crying my eyes out at your sweet post. Although bad things happen ALL the time, I hold to Romans 8:28 "And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

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  4. I've never heard this song before, and I absolutely love it.

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  5. So true!
    I think this is the song you are talking about. The singer is a friend of mine in Fairhope, just after she discovered massive cancer in her body. She is married with two beautiful little girls. Here's the clip. Hope it goes through: http://vimeo.com/50012701

    Keep praying for our Nicole.

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    1. Oh my goodness, that really puts everything in perspective, doesn't it? Yes, that's the song, but it sounds so much sweeter coming from the lips of a woman living out the words more so than most other people can imagine. I'm just sitting here weeping (in a good way). This was wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

      Also, Nicole is 110% added to my prayer list!

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