Day 7 at the Shelter - Expanding the Mission

A few nights ago I brought out the book The Valley of Vision (a book of Puritan prayers that have always resonated with me) and I started reading at the begining...

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

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; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

I couldn't have put it any better myself! This prayer shows the contrast between our deepest needs and His greatest power; how the wisdom of the world contrasts with God's true wisdom and that things aren't always as they seem when looked at through His eyes. It was a very encouraging prayer and as I often feel in the deepest valley, separated from Him in such a vast way that I wonder if He can even see me, if I will ever be able to hear Him again and how long it will be before I am closer to Him again. I have to try to remind myself that while what I feel is painful and real, that there is One who has power over everything I suffer through and one day it will end. On those days when it is almost too much, instead of looking far off into the future and being discouraged about all the pain between now and then, I turn to God to help me through the next moment. It is hard. It is tiring, but it is in some way as the prayer states... light in darkness, life in death, joy in sorrow, grace in sin, riches in poverty and glory in the valley. God will be glorified no matter what. That thought is the hope and peace that breaks through pain.