sokin's devotional 10

"Trouble and distress have come upon me, but Your commands are my delight."

Psalm 119:143

--------------------------------

when the Lord calls on us to do something difficult, or something that we may think may cause more harm than good...do we respond in delight or anger?

bitterness?

confusion?

sadness?

perhaps so. But friends, remember that the calling of God is not always comfortable but it is always correct.

The commands of God, specifically the Word, is what brings life. It is what brings renewal and revelation. It brings freshness and strength for a new day. Although God's commands and His Word may pierce us to the bone and marrow...to the very root of our souls, and may cause pain and hurt - such is the nature of the Great Surgeon who must do a great work in us so that we would be fully cleansed and healed from ourselves.

God may be leading us the valleys but it may be in those very places where we are able to delight in and find true joy.

Being able to delight in the valleys will make our celebration on the mountaintops that much more joyful.

Jesus was the perfect example of this paradigm. Fully able to acknowledge the pain and suffering and fear He felt when called upon the great task at calvary, yet He was able to delight in His Father's plans.