If God leaves you in a place you don’t like, you can either stay miserable or find ways to experience peace and joy in the midst of it. And where is our only source of eternal joy that rises above our circumstances? In Him alone.
My earthly mind says
Make it all the way I want
Just do as I please
Don’t inconvenience or burden me
But His heart says
I’ll cause you discomfort
Uncertainty and unease
Until You place all your trust in Me
I don’t need fame or busy-ness
I don’t need success
Just a roof over my head
And Your rest
I don’t need recognition
Or constant activity
I don’t need to be seen
Just Your Spirit
Surrounding and indwelling me
I don’t need to join the crowd
Or make everyone hear my voice
I just need Your promises
Your truths not muted
By the competing noise
Peace like a river invades
When You get me alone
Seeking no one and nothing else
In Your presence, I am home.
You’re here with me today
Refreshing and guiding
Reassuring and confiding
Plans You have for me
You’re here with me today
Tangible and not hiding
Whispering and providing
Strength I hadn’t seen
You’re here with me today
Don’t take Your presence away
Stay with me always.
I say I will go this way
But You direct my steps
In my head, all my plans are made
But only You see what’s next
My vision is oft filled
With self-centeredness or fear
Directed by my instinct
To survive and thrive here
Your plans are grander
than I can conceive
Designed with a purpose
Linked to eternity
I know not the path
Nor the way
So close to You
I’ll stay
A Silent night as any other
While a miracle was born
Lowly laid in a manger
The very first Christmas morn
Could they hear on that night
His cries that would save
The wrath He would bore
As God set the stage
A fragile babe
Our heavenly King
God’s Light shining
Erasing death’s sting
Fall into my arms
You’ll find a safe haven here
I’m a Father who sees and cares
I’ll wipe away every tear
You don’t need to scramble
To self resolve or heal
My tender arms will do it
Just trust me and be still
May my joy be found in You
On the long and scorching days
May Your peace overrule
When despair says there’s no way
May my heart learn to wait
When patience has all but gone
May my lips continue to praise You
When my ears can’t hear the song
Scandalous grace
Because no one can earn it
And it can’t be taken away
The worst of us can own it
As the proud look on in dismay
Scandalous grace
Because you can’t contain it
And it can’t be sold your way
Bought for us as a loving gift
At a price only He could pay
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:18
What if this path brings misery
And I wake up in tears?
What if I wander around in boots of lead
While looking for a clearing to appear
The daunting task of this journey grips me
With threats of pain that may be endured
With no guarantee of how long it will take
And my fragility now underscored
Would the right way bring so much suffering
Is a conflict that lurks in my mind
I must endure the course, come what may
Instead of turning to my instincts this time
I’ll hold onto the hope one day it’ll be over
The work will have accomplished it’s intend
The perils of the journey left behind me
As I look up and behold this path’s end
“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:14
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
You create beauty from all the pieces of our lives.
In our own strength we can do nothing. Our hands just wriggle and writhe
With this knowledge we come before You limited yet sincere
In our dependence on Your mercy and Hand to act mightily here.
This night is long
My requests play on repeat
Do you hear me? Are You answering?
I circle the same bleak scene.
My mind is tired, my spirit despaired
I try to conjure up gratitude
But none is found here
Then in the darkness, I hear His whisper in my ear.
Jump for joy, rejoice in your faith!
You’ve held onto my Hand and have not lost your way.
Through this storm, your character was born.
Be encouraged for my joy comes in the morn!
“O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.” Psalm 13
It had to be done, You say
There was no other way
I was sick and in need of repair
Each piece taken apart
Examined and decided
The remedy would come through despair
I may not understand
I may not like it
But there’s purpose in the troubles I bear
Uncertainty need not lurk in our minds
Obsessing about allowed or forbidden
He’s won the war and determined our course
The end has already been written
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Phillipians 1:6
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5
I desire mercy over sacrifice
I paid the highest price
For an open door to commune with you
So bow your knee, confess your sins
Follow Me and walk in truth.
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13
‘”Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”’ John 8:10-11
For further discussion on this scripture, check out: https://www.christiantoday.com/article/what-does-it-mean-when-god-desires-mercy-over-sacrifice/88736.htm
He will always respond to a repentant heart with grace
But come to Him with an argument
and you’ll fight and kick to defend your case
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
This restless sea inside of me
Tries to pull me under
But I’ve learned to sail by the winds of Your Word
Unmoved by strike nor thunder
My compass spins out of control
Guided by worry and doubt
But my Captain aboard anticipated the course
And lovingly steers the whole route
I cannot see what’s ahead of me
But certain treasures I know will be there
His companionship and peace sustain me
As I sail with my God in prayer.
Look up ahead! There is a clearing
A beam of sunlight past the bend
Can you see it? Do you feel it?
Heavenly hope streaming in
From a source so grand
Beyond our understand
It’s bubbling, now overflowing
Gifts pouring from His hand
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19
Is my self deception too great for Your spirit?
My ears too clogged to hear Your Word?
Is my spirit too strong willed to sense your direction?
My vision too tainted to understand all observed?
If I have no ears to hear nor eyes to see
If all of my ambitions center around me
Then stop me in my path, turn me around
Whatever Your judgement, let it be.
But if I have sought and believed Your Word
If I have surrendered my will to Yours
Confessed my sin and trusted Your grace
Let not my prayers go unheard.
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9
“Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them? I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?” Luke 18:7-8
With a contrite heart, I come before You
Confessing all I’ve tried to control by my will.
With my troubled mind, I’ve justified
With my sinful flesh, I’ve refused to be still.
I’ve hoped beyond all human reason
That Your hand would still provide
A way out of this wilderness
Out of the mess we’ve contrived
Is it Your grace I have hoped for
Or my selfish desires to come true
Is it Your plan I envision
Or am I forcing my plan on You?
Roll in with a thunder
Strike with Your mighty hand
May Your will be done, not mine, I cry
But not let my tears thwart Your plan.
The seeds He cast whilest on the way
The shade provided in the heat of the day
The springs that popped up to refresh and renew
The gentle hand of our Savior carried us through
In our longing for justice,
We argue, we reason, we explain
Hoping our offender
Will feel remorse for our pain
But where we have been wronged
We have wronged a thousand more
So we look to the cross
And see the grievances He bore
If we all weren’t in need of this grace
We could rest on our arguments
If all we had was our understanding
All through the day we’d lament
But thank God He teaches mercy
Thank God it’s not about evening the score
Thank God it’s not about who’s right or wrong
Thank God, grace gives so much more.
The pain, it was bad but used
To sharpen me as iron
Til’ my face reflected You
“I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.” Isaiah 48:10
Today all I can see is every dream that never came true
Every time I screamed out and never heard from You
Every loose end that never got tied
Every time I felt alone as I cried.
Today all I hear are the sneers of those mocking my faith
The repetition of questions never being set straight.
The deafening silence when I wait for You to make a move
The countless reasons to give up my faith til it’s proved.
Yet, my heart keeps calling out for You.
If You are who you say you are
Then I don’t need to worry
If you are who you say you are
This is all under your control
If you are who you say you are
You have plans for every tomorrow
If you are who you say you are
Troubles for today, I need not borrow
No obstacles block Your will
The blueprint You carefully devised
Each road we’re led down with intention
No detour is a surprise
What joy there is in surrender
To trust Your answer whether yea or nay
What sweetness there is in knowing
You’ve already paved the way
“I had this secret affair,” she said. “He loved me more than anyone could.
He bore his heart to me, brought his cares to me and listened equally as good.
The best of friends we quickly became
Our souls finding familiar comfort while passion filled the same.
But he had committed himself to another a long time ago.
He was not free to love me openly or so the story would go.”
So their commitment sat in silence, in a world all on it’s own
He would keep on loving her as long as he didn’t have to let the other go.
She cried out to the Lord in her desperation and pain
“Why give me this love that must stay hidden and contained?
Shouldn’t his love for me make it impossible to hide
Impossible to still hold onto another and in his closest companions not confide?”
And the Lord answered her: “Now I will ask the same question of you
Has your commitment to the world kept you silent of our love, too?
You walk with me each day, have come to know me and love me like no other
Yet keep me hidden from your world, contained as a secret lover.
Denounce your prior affinities, do not be ashamed
The intimacy we have grown by heart, now walk in the same.
Share our love story, no longer make me hide.
Let your faith in me match internally what is seen on the outside.”
“And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.” Hosea 2:20
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-32
Reaching for answers that aren’t there
Wondering if my wishes will vanish with the wind
Trying to make sense of the madness around me
Wondering what picture I fit in
Trying to grab hold of pleasures that pass me
To celebrate love and warm hearts
Distracted by horror stories, fears and theories
Unable to decide how true they all are
Building strength to stand on my convictions
With limited info to decide what those should be
Working day to day just to earn a living
Wondering if this is all that will become of me
At what point in time will the big picture be clear
When will we know what we chose to believe was right
I guess not until the ever after
So we keep saying our prayers every night
I can’t guarantee any outcome for tomorrow
Or even my breaths beyond today
But I can rest in the grace of my Savior
No matter how far I have fallen or strayed.
I can’t make my troubles on earth get better
But I can rejoice in heavenly truths
I can’t remove all fear or failures
But I can find real joy and peace in You
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
You are good
Even when our hearts break
Even when we forget our faith
When our emotions disagree
When life tries to steal our peace
You are good
When answers are unknown
When our plans are overthrown
You are good although we mourn
When our perfect picture is torn
In every season, through every storm
You are good.
I’ll keep reminding myself
To place my hope in You
Not in another, not in a circumstance
Not in flashes of temporary hope before me
Nor memories of victories past
No, only in You
Will I hope and rely
On the Rock of Your truth and promises
Will I place each brick of my life.
“It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:48
Though the path is hard
It’s not impossible.
For nothing is impossible with You
Though the way is dark
It’s not invisible
You shine Your light to see me through
Though my heart is broken
It’s not beyond repair
When placed into Your hands
Though my tears may fall
You’ll wipe them away
And not let them thwart Your plans.
When life becomes too great to bear
And each moment met just furthers despair
When you’re left with no answer or ear to turn to
When failures and regrets all come crashing down on you
Count on the cross
Count on His grace
Count on His providence
To cover all that you face
Count on His goodness
Count on His love
Know for tomorrow
Your faith is enough
Just because each step is heavy
Doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way to go
Laboring in each step is building my strength
And preparing me for what I don’t yet know
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 13:8
I look on journeys past
And see the change they bore in me
I never would’ve planned these paths
Or the struggles they would bring
The battles are beyond hard
And oft take forever to win
My mind and heart get scarred
Then Your Word carries me back in
I look at journeys past
And see the victories they led me to
I take a deep breath, step out in faith
And set out on my next journey with You
“So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” Exodus 13:18
“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.” Psalm 23:3
Should sorrow come my way
and darkness cover all I see
Should I lose my dreams
And tragedy descend upon me
I’ll cling to You with my last grip
And place all my hope in You
Knowing your heavenly purposes
Prevail regardless of earthly truths
Your love remains the same
Your promises do not change
If you love me, scream it from the mountain
If you love me, keep me close at all times
If you love me, believe me and act on your faith
If you love me, put all other loves aside
“Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name. But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.” Revelation 2:3-4
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deutoronomy 6:5
Everything is pitch black
I can’t see in front of me
I pause and wait for Your light
Blinded, I trust in Your sight.
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13
Oh faith,
Will you crumble when put to the test?
Will you run and hide when you’re not approved by the rest?
Or will you put into practice all you’ve been shown
Speak boldly, stand strong even when all alone?
Faith without works is dead
Works without faith is misled
Demonstrate your faith by your works instead.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14-17
Please carry the heavy load of our pasts
So we’d be free to walk along
Your predestined paths
Please cleanse us from our regret and shame
So our mouths would be confident
To share Your good name
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Disappointments and heartaches
We can give these to You
And attempt to align how we think
to Your Word and Your truths
So what do You say
About moments that don’t go our way
To remember You are Sovereign
And there are grander purposes at play
“Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” Ephesians 1:11
You keep on knocking
Testing and trying
Until the lesson is learned
You keep on blessing
Loving and giving
More than this heart deserves
Your love does not sway
It can’t be altered or taken away
It doesn’t change with each passing season
It knows no limits, it surpasses all reason
Your love is better than life
More than our finite minds can possess
Your ultimate gift to us and reassurance
That in Your perfect love, we may breathe and rest.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:3).
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16)
Return our gaze to You
After whiplash has struck
And our mind’s all a muck
Focus our efforts on each step
You’ve shown is right
Work hard, love hard
Pray in faith day and night
Submit to Your plan
Trust You to see it through
Surrender answers we don’t have
Choose to trust in You
Is this a distraction or Your plan of action
A promise fulfilled or my tainted will
A gift so wise or a clever disguise
Oh, wash these corroded scales
from my eyes
So I would see, I would decipher
How to choose wisely for my ever after
“And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;” Acts 9:18
May I never grow complacent
Toward You or Your love
May my eyes never wonder
Lest I forget that You’re enough
Your love is pure
Your thoughts are gold
Your intentions holy
Your passion, bold
You sent Your Son as the greatest sacrifice
Your unequivocal love on display
You saw our debt and You paid the price
Revealing Your love in the costliest of ways.
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
Psalm 63:3
I cry out to You in my brokenness
With no other place to turn
I’ll rely on my utterances
Since my heart can’t find the words
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26
Letting go of what you fought to embrace
Discovering oft “no” is a gift of grace.
I did everything the Bible told me to
I forsook all others
And followed after You
You said when I confessed all my sin
That You cleansed, You forgave
When I believed with all my heart
You had washed all my sin away
You said my weakness was my strength
Because where I am weak You are strong
You said I could trust in Your grace
But this now appears all wrong
You have not kept Your promises
Your Word has not proven to be true
You have forsaken and abandoned me
Unless there never really was a You.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8
My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far from delivering me— from my groaning words?
My God, I cry out to you throughout the day, but you do not answer;
and throughout the night, but I have no rest.
Psalm 22:1-2
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:18
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5
If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:13
You know what’s truth and what is false
You know how and where to direct our feet
You know why the sun rises each day
You know what gives our hearts their beat
You know the reasons disappointments come
You separate the land from the sea
When the sun doesn’t rise or a heart is lost
You still call us to trust in Your Sovereignty
Do you trust me, He asked
Yes, I replied.
Then put your fears aside
Do you still trust me, He asked
You know that I do
Then stop worrying about my plan for you.
Christian Poetry, Thoughts & Analogies 