Can My Heart Ever Really See God’s Wondrous Glory?
This journey of life has taken me through dark and treacherous valleys at times. So, often I have searched to find the heart of God; desiring to know and understand His will. Sorrows, pains, trials come and toss me about on this sea of life. Each time I am tossed by the storms, I find myself trusting more firmly in the only anchor that can hold me fast in the midst of the storms. I find myself searching and seeking to know God more. I search to see His Glory, His Love, and His Joy. I find that out of the darkness: I become filled with Joy in the midst of sorrow, love in the midst of broken heartedness, and that hope arises out of despair. It is in those dark valleys that God’s Glory shines brightest. Quite the opposite of what my heart would have thought it desired. I really would prefer that His Glory present itself toward me in prosperity. Yet, in my own humanity; my thoughts turn away from God and toward me when all is going well. As though an all righteous, just God would be so pleased with my own accomplishments of righteousness. Yet, God’s Glorious attributes include His perfect Love as well as His perfect Justice. Both are blended into His Splendor. He knows what is best for me. He knows all that is needed in my heart to prepare me for the greatest pleasure in Him and in His Glory.
[bctt tweet=”God knows the only hope for my heart to see glimpses His Glory in a broken world is to allow storms”] Could I understand His power and might were it not for the storms in my life? Would I even search for God, were there no storms? God’s heart breaks with mine every time mine is broken. Yet, He knows that unless mine is broken; I can never feel the depth of His love. I would never be able to truly love anything or anyone; had my heart never been broken. In that broken state, I found God’s love which filled me to overflowing. Only then could I learn the truth of love. If I had never known sorrow; could I really know the depth of Joy I have found in God?
THE MYSTERIES OF GOD
In our humanity we want to understand, to reason why God allows so much sorrow and so much evil to surround us. He could with one word, stop it all. Yet, had He done so; I would have never had the opportunity to know Him. For a just and righteous God to restrain His Hand of wrath, it required an act of unimaginable love and grace. For a just and righteous God to restrain His hand when Christ hung on the cross required a love greater than anything this heart of mine could understand. “33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11)
Too often, we try to understand or explain God with our finite minds. God does not live in our time/space continuum. That is beyond what we could ever understand. So we are asked to do two things. Trust God and seek Him with all our heart, mind, and soul.
AWE AND WONDER OF GOD
What I do know is that the mysteries of God are bigger than this human mind will ever understand; yet, one day He will reveal Himself fully to me. In the meantime, I stand in awe and wonder because of all that He has done to transform this heart of mine. The dichotomy of it all. God has provided me with such glimpses of His Glory that my heart longs to know more, whatever the road that search leads me down.
1. In my world of Chaos, He revealed His peace
2. In my broken heartedness, He filled me with His love
3. In my failures, He revealed His Grace
4. In my pain, He revealed His Arms of Comfort
5. In my sorrow, He revealed His Joy
6. In my weakness, He revealed His strength
7. In my valleys of darkness, He revealed His light of Hope eternal
I do not know what today brings; but, I do know who brings today. I have learned to trust and rely on Him; no matter what. [bctt tweet=”The true miracle: I live a life filled with joy hope strength& love in the midst of brokenness”] That is God’s Glory being revealed as He graciously is teaching me to seek Him.
Have you ever been through a storm and found God’s Joy awaiting you on the other shore? I would love to hear from you. Click here to comment or to tell your story.
This is the song I chose for you Cornerstone by Hillsong
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.
Photograph used by permission ©123ref/ Guita22
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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