The sand hill cranes are back.  I saw and heard the first flock of thirteen yesterday flying over our farm, trilling.

And the red-winged blackbird?  The robin?  My husband and I saw one of each yesterday on our walk along our farm’s trails—our first sightings of spring.  One sat in a tree—the black and red one—singing full out.  The other hopped about in the horse pasture closest to our barn.

I wondered, where are the worms?  Where is the sustenance?  Where is life in this still frozen ground, four feet down, where pipe to fill horse tank still remains frozen and I must haul bucket after bucket of water to paddock three times a day?

The robin—does she have faith to pursue, to keep searching, to keep working and running hard after life?

Do I?

Do you?

Do you ever feel like just giving up, pulling the covers over your head in the morning?

The red-winged blackbird—does he trust prairies will resurrect from winter dead to provide a season of nesting and feasting?  He must, because he sings and his notes ring, piercing silence.

Do I?

Do you?

Do you ever feel like shutting up, not wanting to sing praise?

Yes.

I do.

I did.

Again, yesterday, someone lied to me.  Flat-out lied and made up an elaborate story to cover the lie.  And I knew.

How does a heart not shatter and empty, but hold on tight to love in such a time as this—when what the world calls love disappoints and hurts us so?  How?

Remember . . .

We were loved first.

We are loved always.

God’s track record is perfect and His actions show the truth of His word.  He promised His forever love to those He has chosen, and He says His desire is for NONE to perish.

God is true to His word.  Search and find, but remember that what might NOT look like love to us is because of our imperfect perspective.

Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts.  Our ways are not God’s ways.  (Isaiah 55:8)

We are bound by time.  God CREATED time.

When viewed from proper perspective across time, we will see and know Love that never disappoints—love that is a perfect combination of mercy and justice for all.

One thing I know—one thing that keeps me hopping in hope and singing with praise—the most important thing I know, though this life most certainly brings tears and fears and deepest disappointments—I know, though I cannot always see . . .

All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes.  Romans 8:28

 

ALL—THINGS.

All.

Things.

Every tear.  Every pain.  Every loss.  Every bit of grief.

Often, God’s plan is beyond our ability to know and understand so . . .

When I can’t hold knowledge, I hold faith.

When I can’t know tomorrow, I hold yesterday where I can see His faithfulness, even in the midst of my faithlessness, even in the midst of my heart that wants to love but fails, even in the midst of deepest grief, because there is ONE who holds me together in the midst of all—and you too, my friend.  And though the ground of our lives may still be frosted solid with no evidence of hope, may we hold on together, in faith, like the robin hopping, searching—and the blackbird singing, praising while we wait.

Fresh goodness and new life is ALWAYS on the way for those who search in hope and sing our praise to the One who has and who will surely satisfy our deepest longings, frozen though they may be even now.

So I left last night and joined a group of others singing in four part harmony.  Old hymns and modern praise songs lifted our spirits as we lifted our voices . . .

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness . . . When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace . . . In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil . . . On Christ the solid Rock I stand.  All other ground is sinking sand.  All other ground is sinking sand.  (Words and music by Edward Mote & William B. Bradbury)

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song;  This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm thro’ the fiercest drought and storm.  What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when striving cease!  My comforter, my all in all, Here in the love of Christ I stand.  (Words and music by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty)

Sing out, my soul, and be lifted high with hope!

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.  Isaiah 54:10