by Jenny Blakey

Created on: March 02, 2010

Life can be cruel. Life can be both unkind and unfair.  As a Christian, life can be particularly bittersweet, for we recognize that the God of the universe directs our lives.  In our pain we cry out to the Lord for answers, for provisions, and for miracles.  God, in his mercy provides all of the above; both when we least expect it and when we do.  In our darkest days we learn that God is a provider, that he is a protector, that he loves us more then we could ever fathom.  He draws us close to him, and like a brilliantly cut diamond he begins to show us each facet of his character, of who he is.  We learn to hope, to believe in his promises for our lives.

         Then the Lord, in his grace, removes those promises.  We no longer need merely provisions and answers. Instead we search for rescue, for relief.  During this phase we cannot even remember what the promises are.  We are stripped not only of who we are, but of who we think God is.  Our prayers are not formed of words; rather they are made from tears, from weeping, from groans that only the Holy Spirit can understand.  This is where God, in his mercy, shows us that our hope does not lie in his promises - our hope lies in him.

         Just when we learn this new hope, the true hope, it disappears.  Hope becomes a distant memory, a long forgotten pastime.  We remember the days when we used to hope, when we felt as if there was a purpose.  There is no rescue.  There is no relief.  We begin to question, not if God can deliver us, but why He chooses not to.  At this point we have walked with the Lord long enough to know who He is.  We remember the facets of his character He has shown to us: We know He is God.  At this point, our hope has faded not because God is not who He has revealed himself to be, but because He has not done what He is capable of doing. 

         And then… when we are tired, and weary.  When we are beyond broken, we see a shimmer from the diamond.  The Lord wishes to reveal the last facet of his character.  Hope wells up once again.  In utter disbelief, and bitter-sweetly, a recognition that the Lord has something greater begins to permeate our very being.  The Lord speaks: Look for me in everything.  This is the true revelation. 

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