A PLACE WITHOUT SIGHING!

A PLACE WITHOUT SIGHING!

Isa 35:3-10

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

10 And the ransomed of the Lord  shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

          Every Pastor knows, and dreads, those times when it seems the devil is more active than at others. These times of abnormal difficulty makes us weary and causes us to sigh. Researchers tell us that sighing is a human “reset button.” Patients on ventilators will sometimes sigh to reset their breathing patterns. They literally “take a breather.” Psychologists tell us that we sigh when we are frustrated, discontent, or weary.

          You probably just let out a sigh. I did. The last few days and weeks have been filled with activity and my spirit longs for a place without sighing. This afternoon I will officiate the second funeral in as many weeks. Some of our members are in the hospital and others are suffering in other ways. I am manufactured by my God to feel the pain of others. I have a hard time turning it off. This preset demands that I be a shepherd.

          Perhaps your life is full of pain and distress. Perhaps you’ve been doing a lot of sighing lately. These are times when we need to steal away and get alone with God for some truly quiet time. Tell Him what has been bothering you – although He already knows. Make a list. Don’t be afraid that it sounds like whining. You are the distressed child and He is the heavenly Father. Let His Holy Spirit soothe you. Collapse into His embrace.

He Giveth More Grace.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Annie J. Flint

Dear Lord, I long for that wonderful day when sorrow and sighing shall flee away. AMEN