Song: We Cry Out

So much going on which is utterly devastating. Incomprehensible pain. 

Begging the Lord for help. There's nothing I can do. Absolutely nothing. Even if I had all the material provision in the world, that wouldn't ultimately be the answer. And it wouldn't be enough. The pain and brokenness runs deeper than any material respite could even begin to address. Though the material needs are such that if the Lord would permit, everything in my keeping would go to assist. Yet, insufficient. In excess of my own needs. But still insufficient.

It's not my sufficiency and lack which matter, though. In frailty, I want to extend everything permitted toward meeting need of those beloved. The Lord's own cherished treasures. But He is the One who must. Ultimately. Even through many of His own, if He sees fit.

The cattle on every hill belong to Him. He doesn't lack for anything. Everything created is His to do with as He will. He ordains and permits stewardship. And He reallocates.

We have no sufficiency apart from Him. None of us do. Even the strength of mind, of will, of means as to endeavor provision for oneself is as given by God. There's no place for pride thereabouts...except for glorying in the Lord, that He is good and merciful and faithful to provide.

In the midst of abject suffering, though, it's very much fallen nature to look to circumstances, pain, and incapacitation and to despair, to lament, to fear, to falter. But He's faithful even there, even in the midst of our doubt and faithlessness. He doesn't let us remain fallen. He picks us up, helping us to remember that our faith and security isn't in circumstances or well-being but our faith rests on His promises, as a living faith in Him. Knowing He sustains and provides and fulfills even our unspoken needs. He anticipates them, from before our birth. And ordained our needs would be met according to His will, prior to our conception.

He has loved us before we ever took a breath. He designed us and created us each according to His good pleasure, even to be made new in Christ.

He will not forsake His beloved. He may not prevent us suffering. But He will be with us, as we enter and endure.