Times

Shakespeare said "Time is the justice that examines all offenders." Every human being lives within time, and we have no control over it. Isn't is incredible to then recognize that only God is outside of time and not only in control of time itself, but in control of everything? 

One of my favorite authors, Henry David Thoreau said "Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in." Time can be scary, yes, and can feel defeating. It is also an incredible gift that allows us to cherish this life God has given us. Time is never guaranteed even though we all function under its rules. Time is a beautiful thing because without it there would be no seasons. No growth, rebirth, restoration, redemption, HOPE. What is behind us is already gone, but there is great hope in knowing that each second is a new one that has never happened before. Still, time is hard. With this growth there is also decline. With life there is also death. With joy there is also sorrow. There will be hard times. There have been hard times. God never said there wouldn't be hard times. But He does promise us that He will be there with us through them, deliver us from pain, and Has endured the greatest sorrow beyond all human understanding in giving His Son to suffer rejection, death, and abandonment from his father. There is no hard time that we can go through that God doesn't understand. 

Here's an incredible promise from Paul: 
"And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Job 36:15 says "But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction."
Psalm 119:50 says "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."


One of my favorite songs is by Tenth Avenue North called "Times." Listen to this song, read the lyrics, and remember that if you are in a season of life of hardship and suffering, God is there. He knows. He weeps with you. He loves you, and He will deliver you from all your pain. We can never see past where we are in time, but God does and He has PROMISED that He "will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRN0QPXrdR8
I know I need You
I need to love You
I love to see You, but it's been so long
I long to feel You
I feel this need for You
And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

Now You pull me near You
When we're close, I fear You
Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done
Are You done forgiving?
Oh can You look past my pretending?
Lord, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become
What have I become?

Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

I hear You say,
"My love is over. It's underneath.
It's inside. It's in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, 'Is this for real? '
The times you're broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.
Well, My love is over, it's underneath.
It's inside, it's in between.
These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.
The times you're hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I'm there through your heartache.
I'm there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.
I don't care where you fall, where you have been.
I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."