To a Christian Gentlewoman

This is a letter written by Samuel Rutherford in 1628, to a woman under the severest of afflictions. Let us consider how "light and momentary" our current afflictions are and rejoice in God's sweet care for us even in allowing such painful circumstances:
"My love in Christ remembered to you. I was indeed sorrowful when I left you, especially since you were in such heaviness after your daughter's death; yet I am sure you know that the weightiest end of the cross of Christ that is laid upon you, lies on your Strong Savior. For Isaiah said that in all your afflictions He is afflicted (Is. 63:9). O blessed Savior, who suffers with you! Your soul may be glad, even to walk in the fiery furnace, with the Son of Man, who is also the Son of God. Take courage. When you tire, He will bear both you and your burden (Ps. 55:22). In a little while you shall see the salvation of God. Your lease on your daughter has run out; and you can no more quarrel against your great Superior for taking what He owns, than a poor tenant can complain when the landowner takes back his own land when the lease is expired. Do you think she is lost, when she is only sleeping in the bosom of the Almighty? If she were with a dear friend, your concern for her would be small, even though you would never see her again. Oh now, is she not with a dear friend, and gone higher, upon a certain hope that you shall see her again in the resurrection? Your daughter was a part of yourself; and therefore, being as it were cut in half, you will be grieved. But you have to rejoice; though a part of you is on earth, a great part of you is glorified in heaven. Follow her, but do not envy her; for indeed it is self-love that makes us mourn for them that die in the Lord. Why? Because we cannot mourn for them since they are happy; therefore, we mourn on our own private account. Be careful then, that in showing your affection in mourning for your daughter that you are not, out of self-affection, mourning for yourself. Consider what the Lord is doing. Your daughter has been plucked out of the fire, and she rests from her labors. Your Lord is testing you by casting you into the fire. Go through all fires to your rest. And now remember, that the eye of God is upon the burning bush, and it is not consumed; and He is gladly content that such a weak woman as you should send Satan away frustrated. Honor God now, and shame the strong roaring lion, when you seem weakest. Should you faint in the day of adversity? Recall the days of old! The Lord still lives; trust in Him. faith is exceedingly charitable and believes no evil of God. The Lord has placed in the balance your submission to His will and your affection for your daughter. Which of the two will you choose? Be wise; and as I trust you love Christ better, pass by your daughter, and kiss the Son. Men lop the branches off their trees so they may grow up high and tall. The Lord has lopped your branch off by taking from you many children, so that you would grow upwards, setting your heart above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. Prepare yourself; you are nearer your daughter this day than you were yesterday. Run your race with patience; let God have what belongs to Him. Do not ask Him for the daughter who has been taken from you, the daughter of faith; but ask Him for patience, and in patience possess your soul. Lift up your head; your redemption draws near."
Your affectionate and loving friend in the Lord Jesus,
Samuel Rutherford

My dear friends in Christ, let us love one another so sweetly that we would speak such words to soothe each other in our most difficult days!

The deep water

In the arms of a good Father
You can go to the deep water
Where the questions, we have left unspoken
Come out in the open
We will find shelter here

So I lay down, what I cannot hold in my hands
Every sorrow and hope spinning out of control
And here I find sweet resolution comes in letting go
And we will find shelter here

(Sandra McCracken, Shelter)

Sometimes I am afraid to go to the deep water, afraid that my questions for God are almost blasphemous, especially when I know the truth that I do. But God already knows them anyway, so why would I fear? And it is only when I ask those questions that I have a shelter in Him. I am so thankful for a God of HOPE. That "hope that endures the worst of conditions" as Natalie Grant has sung. Whether wounds are healed or not, God is there and He is All-Sufficient! Whether I am able to find solace anywhere else, I can lean on the arms that never change and never fall away. God always keeps His promise to love me and care for me, whether He changes my circumstances or not. He is my Eternal Friend!

Eternity

I have been thinking on eternity so much lately because it is my HOPE! When questions arise or doubts plague me, this is where I turn. So I have been rereading some notes from a sermon that I heard during my time in California this summer. Here are some snippets that I found particularly encouraging:
"We plan vacations meticulously but how much time do we spend reflecting on our eternal home? Your place in the Kingdom is determined by how you live here on this earth! Matt. 20:29 - Relationships in the New Jerusalem will be determined and compensated by the degree of relationships and our faithfulness in sacrifice here on earth. Many of us love comfort and convenience more than our devotion to Christ. We should be motivated by reward - the reward of Heaven! We should be left with a willingness to joyfully sacrifice any temporal thing that stands in our way of grasping Christ!"