for a time

........ a time to weep
........ a time to mourn
Ecclesiastes 3:4

I am worn out from groaning;
all night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
Psalm 6:6

Jesus wept.
John 11:35

Lord, thank you for showing me that at times tears are an acceptable response to a fallen world. And thank you even more for not leaving us there...

Weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Now the dwelling of God is with men,
and he will live with them.
They will be his people,
and God himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:3,4

not alone

"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 31:8

known

When we are hurting, usually it is only those who have experienced a similar hurt who are most able to help us. They are the ones who can begin to know us; to know how we feel.

This is one reason why it is so wonderful that Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:15,16.

Similarly, this is also how we are able to comfort others. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.

And maybe in the same way, if we turn this around, it was Paul's desire to truly know Jesus that prompted this prayer.... "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:10,11.

faith & prayer

"These were all commended for their faith,

yet none of them received what had been promised.

God had planned something better for us

so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
Hebrews 11:39,40

Thinking on this in connection with prayer.......

and (seemingly) unanswered prayer.

They were commended for their faith,

yet did not received what had been promised....

God had planned something better.