tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post5203323859340952223..comments2023-09-29T02:54:36.953-07:00Comments on Words of Joy: Moving toward the lightJoy Lentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-3560995645266365002015-02-05T12:16:56.898-08:002015-02-05T12:16:56.898-08:00Helen, it was only by the grace of God that I coul...Helen, it was only by the grace of God that I could achieve any degree of calm resting at all. My natural reaction to further sickness is often one of anxiety or panic. It feels like a heavy cloak drowning me and pushing me further down. But God... (don't you just love those words?!) comes into that place of weakness and pain and brings His peace, as well as the endurance needed to get through and overcome it. <br />I'm so sorry to hear you're experiencing insomnia. It can be truly awful and depressing, can't it? Praise God for showing you things to lift your spirits! He definitely used your wakefulness to speak peace to you. I will be praying for restful sleep to come. Bless you for stopping by to leave a lovely, encouraging comment. I really appreciate it! :) xJoy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-939430917687077952015-02-05T12:08:55.262-08:002015-02-05T12:08:55.262-08:00Thank you, Trudy! It is good to come out of a dark...Thank you, Trudy! It is good to come out of a dark place and see the light shining bright. I love these words you share:"It is sometimes through the deepest valleys we learn the most beautiful lessons and become closer to Him." Amen! Such has been my experience over many years of trials and tribulations. It's as if we expect to find God on the high places yet He stoops to be with us in the lowest, darkest nights of the soul. And there we find His companionship sweeter than ever before. All the while we are in the deep valleys, God is readying us to come up to the heights again. Blessings to you. :) XxJoy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-56644902875947106442015-02-03T23:26:50.867-08:002015-02-03T23:26:50.867-08:00Absolutely beautiful post, Joy. I'm so sorry t...Absolutely beautiful post, Joy. I'm so sorry to hear you've had the flu and that it had you bed-ridden for so long, but am so proud that you made use of the time you had to be still and to recharge (to find your 'spring'. I loved your line, "It can be a real effort to remain stable"....perfectly describes my life some days.....and I loved the half of the post after that line, about coming alive again and being grateful and in the gratitude finding so much. (I'm reading this post at 2.30am my time - horrible insomnia after psychologist's appointment - and woke to find the moon shining on my desk/laptop (I've never seen it shine exactly here before)....reading your line, "He finds a way to make things clear when we look to Him and ask Him to make our hearts tender and receptive" took on significantly greater meaning for me by the light of this moon....thank you.....you know I always love to read your beautiful writing and today was no exception!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-63689084670194588412015-02-03T15:52:54.501-08:002015-02-03T15:52:54.501-08:00I'm so glad hope is rising and there is a movi...I'm so glad hope is rising and there is a moving toward the light, Joy. This phrase really jumped out at me today - "Dependency and weakness may feel challenging to our independent souls, whereas they can become the very vehicles God uses to reveal His goodness and grace to us most of all, an opening to deeper knowing." The very vehicles He uses. Yes! It is sometimes through the deepest valleys we learn the most beautiful lessons and become closer to Him. Blessings to you, Joy! Hugs!Trudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05179372917600231306noreply@blogger.com