From Morning til Night

Some mornings I wake up in a strange state of mind and it's often hard to shake those negative feelings. This morning was one of those mornings. I read a devotional by Elisabeth Elliot and it was amazing how her words were exactly what my heart needed. She talked about adversity and how there are times when many of us feel that the Lord has overlooked us as we sit in darkness yet there is hope because He does give us the answers to our "why"s and one of those answers is that we need pruning. I need to be pruned. Even if it appears that He has pruned away something good in my life it is so that I may grow and bring forth fruit. It can be a painful process but I know that "This is my Father's glory, that (I) may bear fruit in plenty and (be His disciple)" John 15:8 (paraphrased by me). Another reason for adveristy is for refining. Faith and character are more valuable than any earthly material and without adversity my faith would not grow and my character would not be stregthened. There have been times when I feel God is punishing me or judging me by allowing trials and struggles in my life but now I see His love for me. I can see and understand how adversity can prune and refine me so that I become more like Christ. A friend of mine at work sent me a link to a song by Fred Hammond and I like these words:

I've lost some joy I've lost some time
Now it feels like I will lose my mind
Journey long and lost my way
And now it feels like 'I'm lost' is all I have to say
Searching here and over there
For what I‘ve lost where is it, I don't know

But I will find a way to lift up my hands
And I will find a way to worship you, Lord
Though my heart is low I'll find a way
to give you praise
I will find a way to love you more


One thing I've not lost
is the will to move ahead
And I kept a faith and trust in you Lord
And I find way down within myself
A love for you, Lord, that overflows
But I know that I can love you more
With every loss and through it all

But I will find a way to lift up my hands
And I will find a way to worship you, Lord
And though my heart is low I'll find a way
to give you praise
I will find a way to love you more

Though there are days when my heart is low I will find a way to give You praise!