PERSONAL MUSING…from a Christian worldview

I’ve been noticing a continual attitude of complaining in my life over all the things that just. aren’t. right. This focusing on all that’s wrong or shouldn’t be is not profitable; it just grows a garden of bitterness. Not good.

So, I’ve kind of had to shake myself and remind myself of the nature of this life. This is not heaven or the place of our rest or our fulfillment. We live in a fragile vale of sorrows, our lives are ever vulnerable and not lasting at all. (As for man, his days are like grass…Psalm 103). Not necessarily a happy truth, but true nonetheless.

The wonderful thing is that God cares for our little passing lives. And He walks alongside of us. And we can trust Him…not just to get us through…but to be actively working in our lives. And we can yield ourselves to Him in love and in service. He can make our lives a blessing to those around us, and we can leave behind a blessing instead of bitterness.

Jesus Himself wanted us to know the nature of this life…but not to be bummed out about it. He said, “In the world you shall have tribulation (trouble), But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” That’s wonderful! And we can rejoice in it.

Anyhow, all that to say that I came across a poem by Amy Carmichael, a 19th century missionary to India. I’m not sure what loss or sorrow she was dealing with when she wrote it, but it was an encouragement to me…to accept the difficulties of life…to go forward anyway…trusting the Lord. And remember, the Lord uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

“IN ACCEPTANCE LIETH PEACE” by Amy Carmichael

He said, “I will forget the dying faces;
The empty places,
They shall be filled again.
O voices moaning deep within me, cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in forgetting lieth peace.

He said, “I will crowd action upon action,
The strife of faction
Shall stir me and sustain;
O tears that drown the fire of manhood cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in endeavour lieth peace.

He said, “I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life’s riot?
Shut be my door to pain.
Desire, thou dost befool me, thou shalt cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in aloofness lieth peace.

He said, “I will submit; I am defeated.
God hath depleted
My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmurings, why will ye not cease?”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.

He said, “I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God to-morrow
Will to His son explain.”
Then did the turmoil deep within him cease.
Not vain the word, not vain;
For in Acceptance lieth peace.

I hope the King James’ English doesn’t throw you for a loop!