Sola Christo

In my last blog post, I posted a poem that I had written several years ago, expressing doubt as to where God is in trouble. Recently I came across a poem that I wrote last semester in response to the questions raised in the first one. At first glance, the second one is fatalistic. At least, that’s what I thought when I first read it today. Then I read it again, and realized that my mindset was not fatalistic, but rather, trusting. Trusting that God is in control and does have a plan, and that I don’t have to know that plan. So here they are. Enjoy.

“Why?”

Where is God when I can’t find him?
Does he hide when life grows dim?
Why does he delight in keeping
All the knowledge that I’m seeking
Away from my hand?
I don’t understand.

“It doesn’t matter”

“Where is God when I can’t find him”
You must first seek to find.
“Does he hide when life grows dim?”
Perhaps the dimness is more kind.
“Why does he delight in keeping
All the knowledge that I’m seeking
Away from my hand?”
Peace for you will only start
When you cease to look within your heart
For the knowledge that you crave.
“I don’t understand.”
Nor will you till the grave.

It is not, perhaps, my best poetry. Sadly enough, I write my best poetry only when I’m depressed. But I think it gets the point across reasonably well.

Go or Stay 

God has made his will known;
In the Bible it is shown.
God desires an upright heart,
And I am willing to do my part.
God is looking for one who cares,
One who other’s burdens bears.
God is looking for one who’ll try.
Try, though he may be so shy.
“God, send me!” He’ll hear me say.
“I will go without delay.”
“But child,” my God might say,
“Are you willing just to stay?
To stay, and change a life today?”
“Sure, I’ll stay, but why not go?
There are many who still don’t know—“
“Child,” my gentle God cuts through.
“I’ll send someone; just not you!”
“Not me!” I cry. “But why, God, why?
Why can’t I go, I want to know; why?”
My God knows best, this is true;
And He always knows the best for you.
God has a great, wise master plan,
Which I don’t usually understand.
But He knows best, and tells me so,
Though I might find it hard, I know.
“God, help me through each trial and test
To understand that You know best.
And if you’ll have me stay, not go,
Your way is always best, I know.”

Why?

Where is God when I can’t find Him?
Does he hide when life grows dim?
Can He not understand
That without Him I can’t stand?
Why does He delight in keeping
All the knowledge I am seeking
Away from my hand?
I don’t understand.
I want to do what’s right, I know.
But in this way I just can’t go.
Where are you, where?
Sometimes I think You just don’t care!
Prove me wrong, O “God most High”!
Show me your way, or else I’ll die.

I welcome comments, either on the poetry itself or the thoughts expressed there-in. I do not necessarily think this way anymore, although sometimes I do.

When my sister-in-law first mentioned that I should do a blog post about “beginnings,” I wasn’t sure what I would write about. I mean, I could have done something about salvation, which is definitely a beginning, or about starting college, or about any number of things that would be appropriate for a post about beginnings. I decided to write about a different beginning, though. It’s one that happens to each of us—it’s called beginning a new day. We all begin each day with a fresh start from the moment our alarm goes off. Our problems, fears, and anxieties all begin anew each morning. Something else begins anew, as well, and that is what I would like to look at. With all the cares and worries that start over each morning, I would get very discouraged if it weren’t for the other thing that starts afresh each morning: God’s mercies.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Those verses are a big encouragement to me, although to be honest, I don’t remember them nearly as often as I should. Often I wake up in the morning, or in the afternoon, as the case may be, and I just groan. I have this meeting or that to attend, this problem to worry about, that issue to take care of, and before I know it, I forget that God’s mercies are new every morning. I start a new day not thinking about the fact that it is God who sustains me through every new beginning I have to face. But if I would only remember that—how much easier my life would be, and how much happier.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed every morning…Great is thy faithfulness”!