No Pain, No Gain....

This world is not our home.  Death is not our end, for those that belong to Him.  Today, I am reminded that pain has a point, when we are His children.  The words that cut deep.  The wounds that seem to never heal, or worse, heal ever so slightly only to be stabbed at again.  All serves to draw us closer to our Heavenly Father.  Lifting our wounds to Him instead of licking them alone in the darkness of our soul.  Darkness reminds us of our need for Light.  No one likes to fumble around in the dark looking, looking for answers or hope.  As daughters of the Light He shines to us, beckoning to not lay down in the dark, to keep straining ever forth His truth that brightens our hearts, minds and even our faces.  Today in the midst of all these clouds that seem to be so constant lately Jesus shined His face on me and spoke to my heart.  Pain has a point.  Pain gets my attention.  Pain makes me cry.  I hate it, still.  As long as I have been walking this narrow road, I still don't love pain.  I don't guess I ever will.  But today, the stinging began and I wanted to wallow in my pit.  But then, after the tears came the familiar blanket of His love, the warmth of His grace.  A warm glow from within that said "Pain has a point.  It is never for no reason dear one.  Never once have I let your tears fall unnoticed.  Come closer to me.  Learn of true forgiveness from me.  Remember all I have forgiven you of.  Oh, remember?  Remember where I found you?  Let me have this ugly pain and turn it into something beautiful for my glory....that's it....let me have it....go on....give it to me....there, there precious.  I have you.  I have this.  Trust Me.  I will never leave you or forsake you."  Oh my soul how tears stream down my cheeks.  This time not from the pain but from the healing.  His most wonderful healing.  This poor girl called and He answered me, again.  Praise Him.  Jesus I love you.  Help me to love like you.  Help me to take your light into darkness.  Help me not to shrink back, because never once have you shrunk back from me.  And I have been dirty and oh so stinky.  Oh Jesus.  My Jesus.  Oh to stand before you and sing to you always.  No this world is not our home and death is not our end.
Press On
Carrie