Surrender

God's aim in our pain. "Let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:19 (John Piper)

God disciplines because He cares. If He would simply bless all of our disobedience we would never grow or mature in our relationship with Him. God has a goal in mind. He wants to redeem us...every part of us. That simply can't happen until we surrender completely. That doesn't happen easily or quickly for most of us. It is a process...one that can seem overwhelming and never ending at times. We can lose heart even as God is pursuing our heart because we have replaced eternal joy with temporal hope.

That is my struggle now.



Well, maybe
Maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up

That is the point. Give up trying to arrange life for yourself. Give up crafting and pursuing dreams that don't include God. Give up trying to be your own savior. Give up thinking that all of the answers lie in you if only you could unleash them through the right self-help book or the latest "spiritual" fad. Give up thinking that you are the center of the story. Give up thinking you are strong enough to make it alone.

‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing
You are God
And You are strong when I am weak

Lord, help my find peace and joy in You and with You when the storms of life rage against me. Use these trials to root me in Your love. Cover me with Your mercy. I know I'm not strong enough to be everything that I'm supposed to be. But You are everything that I need. Amen.

"God’s greatest gifts often come camouflaged in a fine array of perilous circumstances that seem insurmountable. Ask Joseph." - Brett Jones

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." - 1 Corinthians 1:25