Surprised

Sometimes my morning turns to mourning and that happened a few weeks ago. I had a pity party.  But as I wrote in my journal that morning Jesus came and took me away from the pity party.  I was surprised by the journey. The following words are from my journal on July 30, 2016.

“Do not fear, O Zion (Diana); do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:16b-17).

I pick up my broken heart and listen to the words. I slowly walk to the door and leave the ‘pity party.’  The Lord is here and he wants to quiet me with his love. He rejoices over me with singing and takes great delight in me!

I allow His words to sooth my spirit and I feel his strong arms surrounding me as I walk closer to the sunlight of his love.  Soon we’re walking in his garden of grace enjoying one beautiful sight after another.  He shows me a lovely vine flowing with flowers.  The vine seems to climb over the trellis and higher and higher. It seems to never end.

He shows me his colorful roses and reminds me of the thorns. “I suffered the hurt of the thorns. I took your sins on me and paid for them. I rose again to show you that you will live again, too.”  I reach out touch one of the blossom and bend to smell the sweet scent. The sweetness is so refreshing.

A little farther ahead there are delightful daisies and daffodils. There are pretty petunias and grand geraniums. I’m comforted by their glorious blooms. The lilies and lilacs welcome me into the coolness of forgiveness. I feel the gentle breeze in my face. It’s then I realize he’s carrying my broken heart. I’m walking with a lighter step.

We walk on in his garden of grace. We enjoy some fruit from the trees. It is so good. I want more.  I want more of this love, joy, and peace that I’m experiencing.  What a garden!

Soon we come to a stream. It is quiet here except for the gurgling water as it flows over the rocks. The Lord motions toward a bench.  “Let’s sit here and I will give you rest.”  We sit together and he reaches out his hands toward me. “See, I have engraved your name on the palms of my hands…” (Isaiah 49:16).  It’s then I know. He is enough. He begins to heal my broken heart and assures me that I am welcome to enjoy his garden anytime.

Then he whispers one more thing. “I’m preparing another garden for you even more beautiful than this!”

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).