I often see sadness in the eyes of a person. There is a visible sign of sorrow. Maybe it is only recognizable to those who know intimately …sorrow or sadness. If you have never been in a well of sorrow, a season of grief, or a valley of Baca (weeping) ….sorrow may be very unrecognizable to you. But if sorrow was a companion for a long season…..you will never forget the “look” of it. The slow feeling of smothering that occurs no matter how hard you fight it. Only Christ and the hope of His glory has power to dispel such tremendous darkness. I am finding this world is full of sorrow. Yet I see many “pretending” it’s not there. Little healing comes to that which is hidden.
I do understand…really I do…yet I am finding this paralyzing sorrow in the strongest of saints. I have been there too. Some days I am still there honestly. For I have to fight the attempts of the enemy just like everyone else. It is a daily fight. Many hold public platforms or are in church or ministry leadership yet they utter not one word of this sorrow. Somehow we have been taught that strength is in pretense. That joy is exuberant and radiant in the midst of deep sorrow. That we must “rise above it.” We restrain the tears of grief and sadness sent to cleanse. For we must be strong for others to see the light of Christ. Oh friend…what a lie from the enemy. There is strength and the light of Christ in the deepest of sorrow…..and in the coming clean with the sorrow.
Why do we deny others the lessons of the valley season? There is no power in messages preached that are not authentic. The messages Christ is birthing in us to give is that which we are living most of the time. Ministers….Pastors…Teachers, Leaders…why do you not preach that which you are living? Why won’t you tell me about your pain and your struggle. Tell me of how your continuing to breathe with the heaviness of chest. Tell me how you no longer even know if you are in the will of God but you are desperately seeking His heart through tears stained in your closet! Tell me the truth!
Tell me speakers and musicians of how you struggle to pay bills and trust God for provision! That if everyone knew the truth you can’t pay the next bill that comes in but please share with me and others what Christ is teaching you about the “wait” journey. Tell me of your daily walk with Jehovah Jireh ..and the scriptures you are clinging to as reminders because your own mind forgets daily! Tell me…
Tell me of your struggle with forgiveness and how you wrestle with God in quiet. Tell me how the truth is that without the gift of forgiveness…your choice to forgive is still incomplete within your own heart. Will you tell me?
I read the Psalms and see the honest and raw emotion and truth of David’s life. The pouring out of sadness, sorrow, and even anger. What intimacy this causes with Christ. For He deals in transparent truth. Many are waiting to hear this in the church…desperate to know the truth..
Why is Christ called a man of sorrows? Why? People are confused…they see us quoting scriptures constantly but they wonder “does anyone struggle?” ” Does everyone have it all together?” They want to hear the truth of the daily struggles in this walk with Christ. Truly, we are a prideful people. If our children stray from Christ we dare not tell anyone, if we are divorced we are afraid to mention it, if it takes us years to recover from a season there is an expectation that all should be well …but the truth is that the glory to glory is in THAT place! The vineyards are in THAT valley! The tears shed are healing to other hearts…..but only if they are seen and shared.
What yields tenderness but the rain of sorrow….and what gives healing but also the rains from the sorrow..The rain that falls on you discoloring your heart will also be used as rains so gentle and healing that a dying world will be able to see Jesus for themselves…
Let’s give the people a chance to see into our lives….how we too wake up to gray skies. Share in the struggle so they too can begin seeing the rainbow shine again in their own lives.. lets get real so they can relate and see we are very imperfect people and that colors can become vibrant again through Christ but for Heaven’s sake tell them of that which happens during the season of grays when colors have faded into a dull haze…Let’s help them recognize the emotions they can not name because no one has every explained the deeper things of God and how hearing His voice is usually taught in deep despair where all becomes quiet..let’s tell them it happens to us too..not occasionally…but daily….let’s tell them the truth… so they can be free…and so we can be too.
The eyes are hazy it seems
Where are the vibrant blues and greens?
The colors of brilliant array
For today all seems very gray.
The stumbling of feet are soon felt
As joy underneath seems to melt
Dampness and dreariness of soul
Soon creeps in taking it’s toll.
It was gradual at first you know
As the blanket just covered very slow
The radiant colors of days only dimmed
Barely noticed as Satan crept in.
Hope soon flickered bright to dark
As the colorful hues started showing spots
Of blackened sickness so disguised
Soon the gladness of colors failed to rise.
My friend, Hope, seemed clothed a faded red
Once gleeful and joyful turned to dread
Old sorrow still trying to creep In
Thus the battle against sadness does commence.
Yet in the midst of many faded shades
Christ soon comes in very gentle ways
For only He knows how to stay
And chase all the darkness away.
His breath gives short, gentle blows
Soon the reds, the yellows, now rainbows
His Word dispels as it glows
And the colors of sadness soon go.
His presence ushers in sapphires and golds
Pearls so white and reds deep as a rose
The purples are back to royal delight
And the grays of sadness take flight.
October 16, 2015
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise..
Psalm 51:17
