Have you ever gone through a really hard trial that seems to go on, and on, and then it gets better for a while, then turns back rotten again? I've had one of these recently, and I sometimes am tempted to ask, "Where are you God? Don't you see what I'm going through? Why won't you help me through it, or just take it away?"
Today a friend shared a poem with me that I've heard of, but never really took the time to read it. The poem is called Footprints. I'd like to share it on here too, because it encouraged me SO much today.
One night a man dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, on belonging to him, the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened in the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me!"
The Lord replied, "My son, my precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you only see one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
I don't know about you, but that last line almost put me in tears. It's amazing to me that I would think that God has abandoned me or left me in my trial by myself when really, He's the only way I'm going to make it through!
I've been thinking a lot today about Isaiah 61:3: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
I didn't understand what the whole verse meant, so I did some research and study and what I found was amazing. The word rendered 'beauty' means properly a head-dress,
turban, tiara, or diadem; and the idea is, that the Redeemer would give to his mourning people such an ornament instead of the ashes they would put on their heads when they were grieving. It was common among the Orientals to put ashes or dust on their heads in time of mourning to show their grief.
The oil was symbolic to express joy. The garment of praise-a garment that would show joy instead of mourning. The trees of righteousness in the Hebrew are Oaks. Oaks are strong sturdy trees; so the mourning people of Zion were to be strong as Oak trees are, and were to be planted by the Lord.
I see this verse in a whole new way now! I love how God can use something like a poem, a song, or a verse to encourage me during a hard time!
To end this blog post, I'm going to put up the last verse of a favorite hymn. You should read the lyrics to the whole hymn when you have time, because they're just that good, but for now, I'll just put up the last verse.
The hymn is called "Day by Day" and I think it goes great with the theme of this blog post.
Day By Day
vs. 3
Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Deuteronomy 33:25 ...and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
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