I did not know His love before,
the way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
my pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care,
the "self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
not a cloud was in my sky.
I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark,
the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship,
my anchor would not hold.
The ship that I had built myself
was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
with nowhere else to hide.
I had no strength or faith to face
the trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply prayed to Him
and bowed my weary head.
His loving arms enveloped me,
and then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm,
but I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night
He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day
or when the storm might wane.
Yet through the aches and endless tears,
my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
but my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in brand new light,
His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone
could Jesus' love shine through.
It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes wondered, "Why?"
At times I thought, "I can't go on."
I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife,
through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.
And now I see as never before
how great His love can be.
How in my weakness He is strong,
how Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good,
although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear,
and then He cried, "Enough!"
He raised His hand and said, "Be still!"
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy
and flooded me with peace.
I see His face now clearer still,
I felt His presence strong.
I found anew His faithfulness,
He never did me wrong.
Now I know more storms will come,
but only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow
As naught else ever could.
I still have so much more to learn
as Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more,
that's where I want to be.
Author- Wendy Greiner
In The Valleys I Grow
Sometimes life seems hard to bear, full of sorrow, trouble and woe.
It's then I have to remember that it's in the valleys I grow
.
If I always stayed on the mountaintop and never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love and would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn and my growth is very slow,
sometimes I need the mountaintops, but it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand why things happen as they do,
but I am very sure of one thing, My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing when I picture Christ on the cross.
He went through the valley of death; His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining when I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder that it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me Lord and use my life each day,
to share your love with others and help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys Lord for this one thing I know,
the mountaintops are glorious, but it's in the valleys I grow!
written by Jane Eggleston who currently lives in Virginia.
Books by Jewel Diamond
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