Remember The Sweetness

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Romans 5:3-4

It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace.

Chuck Palahniuk

A very dear friend shared this quote with me this morning to encourage me, and it did. I have been a little down, a little inconvenienced, a little agitated, a little salty. I'm not a person who displays every moment of my life to a public forum but I know I can and should if it will minister to someone else. I am one of those dreadful people who just wishes life would go back to "normal" right now, with no delays. I refuse to see the days we are living in as a "new normal", but I haven't been seeing and remembering the sweetness and the good that has come from them either. I have witnessed healings, salvations, kindness, and a searching for God in so many people. I need to remember that God works everything out for our good because we love Him and live to carry out His purposes. Romans 8:28

It's so easy to wear our scars as badges, to remember what or who caused them. To keep playing the soundtrack in our minds, another somebody done somebody wrong song over and over. This is the stuff of life, tragedy, pain, hurt, sorrow and we never know when it will strike but we have to remember that God said He would never leave us, abandon us, reject us, or refuse us. We are to lay our burdens on Him so He can remove them. We are to forgive even though it's hard to forget. There will be times people will let us down or hurt us. There will be times that we will hurt or let someone down. We shouldn't dwell on either, we need to forgive them and forgive ourselves. Ask for forgiveness when we need to, show mercy when we need to. Mercy is a kindness not deserved and it's the very character of God. When we learn from the painful things and choose to remember the sweet things our character becomes more like Jesus. The faster we do these things the easier it is. If you have a wounded relationship right now try to cast out the hurting soundtrack playing in your mind and remember the sweetness of that relationship even if they will not. Your life will be filled with the sweetness of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and your yoke will be easy to bear and your burdens will be light. (Matthew 11:30)