the story of your glory

“So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’ When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,” John 11:3-6

My child,

Like Mary and Martha, sometimes you, my loved one, have been desperate to communicate your needs to me. Your heart broke because of great loss. You wanted me to provide immediate relief. 

There were times I did not come and rescue those you love, or you. I allowed the pain. I grieved with you, comforted you, and was angry about how the sinful conditions in this world had hurt you. But still I did not step in and remedy the situation.

I know this is hard for you to understand. I know you wanted more than my comfort and peace. You wanted your circumstances to be rewritten.

You, also, want to hear this will never happen again. But it will. There will be other times when I don't fix life, as you would want me to.

But I promise you this - I can redeem every sorrow in your life to draw you and others closer to me. In light of eternity, that is what is most important.

Please trust me to use your life to point to my perfection. By glorifying myself through your life, I will bring beauty from the ashes and create what is most valuable - forever.

I love you,

Abba

My Abba,

I know you are right - as always. Infinitely right is who you are. But I do get lost in the pain, sometimes. It can chase truth from my head.

This life is hard. But you know that first-hand. In the garden the night Christ was betrayed, the cry went out from Son to Father. "Please let this cup pass from me. Please let's not do it this way, if there is any other way."

You know that desperation for a different ending. But what if you had passed on the cup of the cross? Where would we be?

In that case, your perfect purposes were accomplished through tremendous suffering. I know in this life on earth your plans cannot always be accomplished with storybook endings. 

"Happily ever after" is only real in heaven. So please give me your eyes to see my painful circumstances. Even if I don't understand in this life how you have redeemed my pain, please fill me with the understanding that it will never be wasted.

Continually remind me that you will glorify yourself - make your magnificence known - in some way, even through the most difficult times in my life. Give me the courage to embrace the truth. Your glory is of upmost importance, even in my grief.

Being caught up in the story of your glory is what I was created for as your image-bearer. Transform me today with the reality that reflecting your glory, revealing your beauty, is my deepest calling.

I love you, 

Mollie