well it's a process

Real talk. Don't pretend you haven't had these conversations with Him or maybe it is just me.
“Lord, I feel like you are crushing me…it is too much...What more?”(p.s. don't ask that question usually he finds more)
 “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears  much fruit”

“LORD, when will you take this ache away?” “when your righteousness goes forth as the noonday"

and no, that's not the answer I wanted, it's not how I work but peace washed over.. "You keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he TRUSTS in you." Does that mean I haven't had this conversation over and over with Him, absolutely not but I do have His promise, and He is at work. I look for Him each day.. daily bread.  Sometimes we get caught up in the end result of our affliction and we start looking for the light at the end of the tunnel but what if that light doesn't come when we want it to? What if we are suppose to lean into Him in the valley of shadow of death and what if He is the light. What if He wants to give you more of himself? What if in the waiting---- He is shaping you more into who He has created to be.

 What if the process is just as important as the end result... think about these scenarios.

Did you know that one of the most precious jewels on Earth, Diamonds " form under crushing pressures and intense heat." Crushing pressures??? Intense heat?? Yet, diamonds are one of the most beautiful, sought after jewels. What if the diamond in its early stages said "no, thanks-- I'm good, you can stop this crushing pressure and intense heat." It would never reach what we know as a diamond. It would never be what it was created to be.  "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.... You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,and a royal diadem in the hand of your God." (Is. 62:1,3) Sometimes we feel like we are in the midst of crushing circumstances and intense heat... but He is refining.   In loves service only wounded soldiers can serve. Lord, help us trust you in the waiting and learn in the process.

Did you know that trees dig their roots deeper into the ground during a drought in search of water? These trees end up being stronger than most (if of course, they find water). Their need for water drives them deeper. What if there was never a need for the roots of the tree to dig deeper... pretty flimsy trees. What if we never experienced affliction, suffering... Scripture says we will share in Christ's sufferings. What if our sufferings and the pangs of this life were to drive us to the Him.. the living water so that we too could be "rooted and grounded in love."

DO YOU SEE, that in both of these processes the end result was something more beautiful than it was? Did the tree decide to give a drought? No--- but it grew stronger, became more rooted because of it. Did the diamond asked to be crushed.. no but beauty is brought forth! Do we ask for affliction, troubles, no--- but it's guaranteed in this life. Take Heart, you serve the ONE who has overcome the world.

You see He makes all things beautiful in HIS time (not yours). He makes beauty from ashes and turns mourning into praise. He turns the lily of the valley into a Rose of Sharon. In His time.. .when He said "when your righteousness goes forth as the noonday, it wasn't a time table (that's what I so wanted him to give me) but in the waiting we learn something. We learn to trust.. we learn to sing praise. We learn to be thankful for His grace and mercy over all things. We learn that He allows things to happen that we wouldn't choose for ourselves but that bring us to him, to behold our King. ....   Have you noticed in the dead of winter when the trees are laid bare for the world to see-- how the branches are slightly raised upward.. I think creation knows a thing or two that we oft forget.. to rejoice, to praise him. He has come to ransom captive Israel. He humbled himself and took on flesh. He entered in, Emmanuel, God with us. He loved you so much He came for you ---while you were far off He sought after you.  You are lovely because He loves you, and He loves you so much that He wont let you stay where you are.  "Every good and perfect gift comes from above from the Father of lights in whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." Yes, and so we can even see our slight and momentary afflictions as Gifts from Him and ask "Lord, what is it that you would have me learn? Help me, behold you! and be made more like you."

Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow!