There IS purpose in this pain

April 1, 2016

Worship: How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin

The splendor of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
It trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age, He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit, Son
Lion and the Lamb
Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

(How great is our God, sing with me)
Name above all names
(How great is our God and all will see)
Worthy of our praise
(How great, how great is our God)
My heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Songwriters
CHRIS TOMLIN, CHRISTOPHER DWAYNE TOMLIN, ED CASH, JESSE REEVES

Published by
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.

Read more: Chris Tomlin - How Great Is Our God Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Video: https://youtu.be/cKLQ1td3MbE

Witness: Life has been a bit of a struggle lately. Life changes in my daughter’s life have once again flowed over to my side of life. Her husband, who has been a perennial problem in her and my life, has found gainful employment again (this is at least his 12^th or 13^th job in their 10 years of marriage). This means watching 3 of my grandchildren for her while they both work. Hopefully, the schedule will become more normalized, however, whether it puts them ahead financially remains to be seen. He tends to hold on to his money for his sinful habits and especially when he wants to punish my daughter for some perceived transgression. He is one of the reasons my wife left me, he has a very negative effect on all who know him. Yet God is sovereign, and there is a purpose in this pain my daughter and I carry. We have grown stronger through it. There is a saying that has been around for a while. It is a verse from a song called “How Can We See That Far,” by Amy Grant:

"The same sun that melts the wax can harden clay

And the same rain that drowns the rat will grow the hay."

Link: http://www.vagalume.com.br/amy-grant/how-can-we-see-that-far.html#ixzz44ipz8rH7

When trials beset us and pain seeks to undo us, we can trust in His loving hand, His promises in His WORD, and His unseen plan.

Lam 3:22-24

22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."

NIV

Ps 18:30

God's way is perfect.

All the Lord's promises prove true.

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

 Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Deut 29:29

 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

NIV

When life doesn’t make sense and trials seem unending; when the winds of adversity are blowing against us, the words that follow the verses in the song quoted above by Amy Grant contain some sage advice:

"And the mighty wind that knocks us down

If we lean into it

Will drive our fears away"

We can let life blow us down, or we can lean into the hurricane and hear God's "still small voice" and grasp hold of His Hand and find shelter in Him from the storm.

Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. NIV	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. ESV
Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. NASU

Time is fleeting, and my eyes grow tired. I have to get ready for work. I turn to a trusted saint, who ministers to me whenever I read from his works, and leave this short, but impactful word:

Psalms 25:4
Ver. 4. Shew me thy ways, O Lord. Unsanctified natures clamour for their own way, but gracious spirits cry, "Not my will, but thine be done." We cannot at all times discern the path of duty, and at such times it is our wisdom to apply to the Lord himself. Frequently the dealings of God with us are mysterious, and then also we may appeal to him as his own interpreter, and in due time he will make all things plain. Moral, providential and mental forms of guidance are all precious gifts of a gracious God to a teachable people. The second petition, teach me thy paths, appears to mean more than the first, and may be illustrated by the case of a little child who should say to his father, "Father, first tell me which is the way, and then teach my little trembling feet to walk in it." What weak dependent creatures we are! How constantly should we cry to the Strong for strength!(from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)