He carried so much. More than “our sins and griefs to bear,”1 He carried the weight, the pain, the inner turmoil, and mental anguish the results of all the by-products of those sins and griefs, upon a heavy-laden heart and mind. Tears welled inside to the bursting, refusing to fall from the eyes that were singularly focused upon a greater joy.
It was the psalmist who wrote, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” Psalm 30:5, recognizing the temporary hold tears and sorrow have, especially when one’s heart is fixated upon a greater joy to be found in the morning.
For Christ, the illness of sin had made its mark on His body and throughout His person. Yet, in the heaviness of the load He carried, and the pain His holy vessel endured, we are told, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.
Although the joy was there for what it would accomplish, let us not approach the pain He endured physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in a lackadaisical fashion. Let us not brush aside what strength of heart and mind this endurance called for. Let’s not subtract what the man, the person of Jesus felt and suffered at the hands of all these afflictions.
So heavy it was, and so hard it was, we couldn’t do it for ourselves: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” 2 Corinthians 3:5.
The tarnished state of man could never find in himself the satisfaction this heaviness of sin required, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. But in Christ, “ God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” Romans 3:25.
Sin was paid in full. Joy came at the thought and complete process and plan of the redeemed being ransomed from the clutches of darkness. But let us not be unmindful or take lightly the night afflictions He suffered through before the day dawned. In it, there was real pain and real sacrifice beyond the scope of what we can imagine. All for the joy that we might experience a glory unimaginable, where “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
The weight of what Jesus endured could not dim the glory of the greater joy in the morning. Aren’t we glad about it!
He suffered, To save, His greater joy Came to our aid, And satisfied the debt, We could not pay.
His joy is complete, In the sky We shall meet, The blessed Savior Our sins impaled Hands and feet.
Absent are tears Or turning away, Forever with Him We shall surely stay. Accepting His sacrifice Paved the way.
You are the Rock that we lean upon. Better than the glory of the rising sun.
You are the great I AM THAT I AM. Better than Moses, the prophets, and Abraham.
You are my praise, my comfort, my shield. Better than any source this world reveals.
You are the hope in my soul, do I trust. Better than man or plan, designed or discussed.
It is You to which none can compare, for You are better than anyone, anywhere.
A lot of things we can appreciate but You, O God, are better in every way.
“Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord‘s name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.” Psalm 113:2-4
“Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.” Jeremiah 10:6-7
“I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” Isaiah 45:5-7
The world calls out for our trust. Man pleads for us to put confidence in him. Even our own five senses beckon us to lean upon what we can feel, see, and touch.
But God is supremely better than them all. He is the Utmost beyond our utmost, and none can top, come near, or replace the joy and treasure found in the greatness of our God who is just better than.
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Lead me to the cross where I can lay my burden down. Lead me to Him who will never let me drown.
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Lead me to the One who bottles the tears I cry.
Lead me to Him who knows all my cares and sorrow. Who holds my future and all of my tomorrows.
There, I find solace in the grip of His embrace. So, lead me where I can rest from this exhausting race.
He’s my source and my shield; my covenant and mercy. Lead me to God, whom I love to the bursting.
When life is overwhelming and I don’t know what to do, Lead me to Your arms, O Lord. Lead me to You.
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2
Father God, we need You. We cannot find the strength or wisdom on our own to properly care for the things and adversities we face. But this we do know, You are our Rock. You are the peace we find in the midst of all that overwhelms us. Take us by the hand and lead us to You – our safe sanctuary, our hiding place, from all these storms that blow our way. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!
His promise says I’ll never leave nor forsake you, Even when the skies are no longer bright blue; When the clouds and the roaring crash of thunder, Threaten to overwhelm and drag me under.
His promise says I’ll be with you until the very end, When people turn their backs and you can find no friend; When troubles and trials make you cry at your wit’s end, When life unravels, leaving a broken heart that needs to mend.
His promise says that this will work together for my good, Though the confusion can’t be hardly understood; When life is filled with “I wish I would,” Taking me through all the could and should.
His promise says I lived and died for you, Giving you everlasting life to help you make it through; His salvation, sin’s stain erased and undo, Bring through Him a victorious breakthrough.
Lead me to the cross where
I can lay my burden down.
Lead me to Him who will
never let me drown.
Lead me to the Rock
that is higher than I.
Lead me to the One who
bottles the tears I cry.
Lead me to Him who knows
all my cares and sorrow.
Who holds my future and
all of my tomorrows.
There, I find solace in
the grip of His embrace.
So, lead me where I can rest
from this exhausting race.
He’s my source and my shield;
my covenant and mercy.
Lead me to God, whom I love
to the bursting.
When life is overwhelming and
I don’t know what to do,
Lead me to Your arms, O Lord.
Lead me to You.
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2
Father God, we need You. We cannot find the strength or wisdom on our own to properly care for the things and adversities we face. But this we do know, You are our Rock. You are the peace we find in the midst of all that overwhelms us. Take us by the hand and lead us to You – our safe sanctuary, our hiding place, from all these storms that blow our way. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!
Some days my life feels taken.
Overshadowed with fear, my faith feels shaken.
But You told me that I’m not forsaken.
In Your hands, I am molded and shapen.
Failures, mess-ups, and disappointments
all try to rob me of my anointing.
Making me feel like the least of all,
but You declared my life has a mighty call.
Walking away is not an option,
I was brought in by Your holy adoption.
To make me more than what I see in self,
to rise me higher in spiritual wealth.
In You, I am rich to do a mighty work,
denying the frustrations that try to steal my worth.
I stand in faith upon that solid ground.
In Jesus Christ, where my life is found!
“And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith,” Philippians 3:9
Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control over) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.
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