Friday, May 23, 2014

Poem 42...


I made a post on Instagram a few days back, pointing to a particuliarly deep struggle I have had with depression. I really wanted to share this poem the Lord gave me that day. He was leading me through Psalm 42:11.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.


He was reminding me how in the Psalms, you see this same ebb in flow, back in forth or total adoration and utter despair....but yet the author time after time falls back into the arms of hope, often within the same paragraph. Despair....darkness...hopelessness...these are not new things. And Jesus is most certainly not afraid of them. But He has conquered them. He is the "Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow." He doesn't cower to your brooding and inconsistent adoration. He NEVER changes. His light overcomes your shadows. His postion is held....to fight for you eternally and eagerly desires you to walk in the freedom He gave His life for. The ebbs and flows of our walk with Jesus are normal. We have peaks and valleys, but neither are permanent. He calls us to remember, even in the darkest of nights, if we squint hard enough, there is always a glimmer of His light to hold on to. You will see His face again.




              ________

For just as long as the light lasts,
I will see Your hand holding fast to me.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I will remember the sound of Your voice.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I will remember your goodness.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I won't be lead by my pain.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I won't trust the advice of emotion.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I will embrace Your shoulders.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I will let You sing to me.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I will be present for the healing.
For just as long as the light lasts,
I will cling to every promise.
For just as long as the light lasts,
You will be here, my champion.