I began this week learning that my Grammy went to be with Jesus Sunday night. This verse came to mind the next day:

“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Fullness of joy! Because my Grammy put her faith in Jesus Christ, that is what she’s experiencing at this very moment. What victory!
And yet, I’m still here. Happy for the joy & pleasures she’s experiencing, yet saddened by the loss. Such a paradox of emotions.

One of the prayers from The Valley of Vision has arrested my mind over the last week. Part of it is below:

“Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine.”

–  excerpted from The Valley of Vision [page xv]

I’m finding this to be true. I cannot be healed unless I am broken. I cannot go up unless I am first down. I cannot see God’s glory if I am distracted by all the things around me.

If you find yourself in a low place today, look up to Christ. You will find that His brightness far outweighs any darkness.