"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth." ~ Deuteronomy14:2

Friday, July 27, 2012

Pleasant Stone Devotional Meditation: July 27


“And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; I will lead them in the paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them” ~ Isaiah 42:16

In yesterday’s “purple stone” verse we saw the basic need to discover whether or not our suffering springs from our own disobedience. If we admit that it does, we can take a step in the right direction. We have been honest before God and with ourselves. We can then ask and receive forgiveness. By His grace, we can put the disobedience behind us and go on.

However, perhaps your suffering is not from conscious disobedience on your part. But you still feel as though you are in utter darkness and in all honesty do not know which way to turn. This terrifying darkness can be a consequence of any kind of suffering: self-inflicted suffering or unmerited suffering. The density of the darkness remains the same. The terror is the same. Your very heart seems to be condensed darkness.

Even if you have received forgiveness, you still stand bereft, not knowing where the light is for you. You know intellectually that God is light, that Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” and yet in your abject suffering you truly don’t know where the light is for you. Even if someone explained it you might not understand. You might try, but your despair is so wide and your darkness so deep you seem blocked.

Whatever the cause of your suffering, it is here, at the point of blank despair that we can feel the pressure of God’s love upon our hearts. It may be the first time we have ever been sure of it. Stop and expect His touch. There are no words. God does not need words to communicate with us. He created us. Stop trying to hear Him. Just be with Him and know.

“I will make darkness light … and crooked things straight. … Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name; thou art mine.”

No comments: