Thoughts from a Friend

A couple of years ago, when I was going through another difficult time, a friend sent me a letter filled with quotes and poems for encouragement. Here are a few of the things she shared:

~~~~~~~~~

You are right not to write details about the pricking thorns of life. It only makes them prick more sharply. Look at the roses on your brier, and as you think of them your heart will lighten. I used to thank Him, when my skies were a bit cloudy, that there was so much more blue than grey. I know the same is true of your skies, in spite of these horrid injections and other things. I understand about your dread of pain. And He understands, He who bore pain unimaginable and unforgettable. Our scars won't be eternal. His are.

~~~~~~~~~

It doesn't much matter what happens to us. The one thing that matters is how we meet what happens. Limitations, frustrations - they can't cast the smallest handful of dust on the glory of God. So let us be of good courage. He is leading us through and on, and as for God, His way is perfect.

~~~~~~~~~

You will never regret having thrown all to the winds in order to follow your Master and Lord. Nothing will seem too much to have done or suffered, when, in the end, we see Him and the marks of His wounds; nothing will ever seem enough. Even the weariness of deferred hope will be forgotten, in the joy that is not of earth. And even now the overweights of joy are often more than we had asked or thought.

~~~~~~~~~

Don't be anxious. It is not what we feel that is important. By His grace, who has grace sufficient for the weakest of us, do you will to do His will? Do you will to do it even if it brings sorrow and pain and weariness? Yes, and dullness? If you can say, 'He is enabling me, that is my desire', then you need not fear. You will not fail.

~~~~~~~~~
To one who felt useless:

My first feeling was to write and tell you that you are mistaken, but though I think you are, in part, I won't write so. Instead, I will say what our heavenly Father said to me long ago, and says to me still very often: 'See in it a chance to die.'

Perhaps the brave love of God is touching with death the I in you, that it may be in very truth 'not I but Christ'. This is your heart's desire, your deepest desire, and He counts nothing too much to do, that it may be fully fulfilled. 'Ponder the voice of my humble desire.' He has pondered it; He is answering it. So be of good cheer. Don't heed the devil's whisper about uselessness. Is he not the father of lies? Why believe a liar? God is working out a most beautiful purpose.
~~~~~~~~~

Now good night, and let the Lord give His beloved sleep untroubled by the unkind remarks of the enemy. Believe me, he is not at all trustworthy, and you well know your Lord is. Does He ever break His word? No, never, and He knows that you know it. 'For Thou, Lord, hast never failed them that fear Thee.' No, nor ever will.

~~~~~~~~~

And shall I pray Thee change Thy will, my Father,
Until it be according unto mine?
But, no, Lord, no, that never shall be, rather
I pray Thee blend my human will with Thine.

I pray Thee hush the hurrying, eager longing,
I pray Thee soothe the pangs of keen desire:
See in my quiet places wishes thronging,
Forbid them, Lord, purge, though it be with fire.

And work in me to will and do Thy pleasure,
Let all within me, peaceful, reconciled,
Tarry content my Wellbeloved's leisure,
At last, at last, even as a weaned child.

~~~~~~~~~

Remember also that you are His; your freedom and joy are in Him not in yourself because yourself is only free when it does not think of itself. What He allows to happen to you, therefore, doesn't affect that truth. You are always safe in Him whatever condition you are in here and now. You can trust Him for that, you do not even have to 'enjoy' Him cognitively and the MS can take everything and you're still safe because He doesn't change, He's not affected. Hold onto Him, not yourself, not even your knowledge of Him, but just Him!
~My friend to me in her letter

~~~~~~~~~

I want to live in the light of the thought of His coming, His triumph - the end of this present darkness, the glory of His seen Presence. This bathes the present in radiance. You won't be sorry then that you trusted when you couldn't see, when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared and no small tempest lay on you (Acts 27:20). No, you won't be worry then. So I won't be sorry now. I am believing. 'All joy and peace in believing': the words ring like a chime of bells.
~Amy Carmichael