"Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15
A hard truth. I've been thinking about this so much lately I'm wondering if I've already written on this before. I don't have time to check the archives...so you'll have to bear with me, Dear Void.
So, I am cheering and rejoicing and doing cartwheels with a friend who's journey down infertility has ended. I'm picking out fabric and deciding on a baby quilt pattern to show her my joy! I rejoice with her as she rejoices. I wept with her as she wept. Both came quite naturally.
And yet, I have another friend who's journey down this same road continues. And for every such happy announcement she puts on her happy face and forces herself to rejoice with the rejoicer...while her sadness continues. And it's easy to weep with her as she weeps.
But, there are other situations that make this a hard truth to learn and apply. I often say my pride and selfishness know no bounds. I long to do great things for God. I struggle to embrace the obscurity He has so snugly assigned to me. I prayed for years to be sent on an adventure of a lifetime...to allow us to switch countries for my husband's work...to evangelize in ways our status quo American family has never had an opportunity to do before. And while the answer came back a firm "NO...Stay." The answer for a dear friend came back "GO...now!"
And God said...."REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE." And, I obey.
And he teaches so gently....why His nos for me are as wonderful as His yeses for her. His plans for ME are perfect...and ALL His ways are best! He will give me rest as He quiets me with His love!
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
A call I thought He might be placing on my life to shepherd through Biblical counseling...much prayed over and researched...became a realization of a bigger mandate...a something that could be done through my own personal Bible study and not further classes and education. And as I struggled with His answer being different than my expectations...He again told another sweet friend to "GO, DO...now!"
And God said..."REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE." And, I obey.
Not because it's easy...but because I'm slowly learning that the more I obey...the more I see WHO He is...in my life and in His perfect glorious plan for the world.
God is Good! God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
1 comment:
This is such a mature response, Bobbi, though not an easy one. Too often people wallow in bitterness over God's "No's." I just had to remind myself yesterday that His different answer to one I wanted was best even if it hurt at the time.
Keep on rejoicing with those who rejoice and "blooming where you're planted." He's using you in ways you may never know til you get to heaven.
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