It is now January 8, 2008! Happy Hew Year!
I know that I missed the Holiday Season in my blogging, but on to the New Year. I have been kind of discouraged lately - can't put my finger on why really (besides family members that aren't well and trying to lose weight - ugh!)
But I wanted to share this awesome devotion that I got this morning - put me in perspective!
In 1914 Thomas Edison’s laboratory caught fire and burned to the ground while eight fire companies watched helplessly? The next morning as he looked at the remaining rubble, Edison said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” What an incredible attitude! This man was able to see beyond the disaster before his very eyes to the potential ahead.
Thomas Edison’s statement sums up the truth about spiritual growth perfectly: trials are the foundation of joy for spiritual maturity. We grow spiritually only from and through the trials that arrive on our doorstep.
If you’re feeling frustrated, defeated and discouraged by the trials in your life today, I want to encourage you to look beyond the rubble to what lies ahead. It can be difficult to face our trials with the kind of spirit that sees great value in disaster, but that’s what the Lord expects from us if we are to be women who walk on their foundation of joy. Here is a poem that reflects this attitude so well. While the author is unknown, the poet obviously knows the formula for the foundation of joy.
It’s sometimes very difficultfor us to understandthe wisdom and the love behindthe things that God has planned.But we wouldn’t have the rainbowIf we didn’t have the rain;We wouldn’t know the pleasureIf we never tasted pain.We wouldn’t love the sunriseIf we hadn’t felt the night;And we wouldn’t know our weaknessIf we hadn’t sensed God’s might.We couldn’t have the springtimeor the yellow daffodilif we hadn’t experiencedthe winter’s frosty chill.And though the brilliant sunshineis something God has made.He knew too much could parch our soulsso He created shade.So God’s given us a balance:Enough joys to keep us glad,Enough tears to keep us humble,Enough good to balance bad.And if you’ll trust in Him you’ll seeThough yesterday brought sorrow,The clouds will part and dawn will bringA happier tomorrow.
