I enjoy the fresh beauty of spring, with the promise of life all around me. The beautiful, the hopeful, the encouraging... these give joy. But what about the disappointments and distresses of life? What about when your best efforts fail and hope withers before your eyes?
Where can joy be found then?
I have learned that circumstances will change. People will disappoint me. Life's treasures don't endure. But the everlasting God, the Author and Finisher of my faith, remains true. Whatever I may face in this life, I can rejoice in Him.
The rainy season for the Savannah is nearly over, and Lawrence reports:
We have not yet had rains around Makindu. The crops have now began withering away. But the Dear Lord has blessed the area with underground water from the nearby plains. Several people are growing food there ...which has found its way the market, if only one can afford to pay for it. Some people find jobs in the little farms easily though the food is so expensive! We can now get green maize, vegetables and some fruits-- watermelons are plenty. Praise the Lord for all His goodness.
The cow peas are surviving. They tower above the green peas and are flowering in this drought. How wonderful the Dear Lord is!
Though rain is unheard of in May, the dear brother asks for a special mercy.
See Lord's wisdom and beautiful handiwork. Who can design better than our God? Far beyond the dark ranges on our side of Kenya, we could see the outline of the great Kilimanjaro... Do you see the snow stripes covering its top? Our God is a wonderful Master planner. See the hope of rains in the dark clouds? God is wonderful and His promises are sure. Please pray that the Dear Lord will send us rain once more.
Whether the crops dry out or not, the Lord is our shield. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." (Psalm 46:1-2)
We are very encouraged to see the Lord blessing souls in "the midst of the storm." I was healed miraculously of some very painful spasms in my neck that have lasted about a week. Then we have seen some newly saved people showing real marks of sanctification. It is wonderful.
Oh, and how much sweeter is the eternal spring of joy than any reflection down here! The beautiful and bright and hopeful are just the smallest glimpse of that glory above. Our Heavenly Father withholds the lesser blessings that we may discover the greater. But will we? Only in turning our eyes from the temporal can we know the unending delights of heaven.
Will you find your joy in Him today?
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