Turn the Pain into Poetry of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  There’s something JOYfully poetic about seeing life through the eyes of our Creator!

            Only when we give every part of our lives to God, relinquishing control of even those tender spots that bring pain; only when we acknowledge that God is sovereign and loves us, even when it seems things don’t make sense; only when we allow Him to “turn our pain into poetry” can we experience the joy and peace that Paul speaks of in Philippians.  That peace the “passes all understanding” is available to each of us!  Why choose to stay “stuck” in the mire of discouragement, self-pity and worry?

Philippians 4:6-8 admonishes us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

           

            When we accept that incomprehensible peace and allow it to envelope us in it’s loving arms, we can sense the “poetry that comes from the pain” (as author Ann Voskamp puts it.)  Many strong Christians will testify of going through horrendous circumstances, but they would not change them if they could because they grew so much closer to the Lord.  And with that close relationship comes sweet peace and JOY~

            Whatever the pain that comes our way, God can turn it into poetry that will be here to stay!