In the Field of Grace

by Tessa Afshar

“If God spared us from the piercing shaft of every sorrow,” she said, “we could never fulfill His best plans for our lives. Sometimes the sweetest things in life rise up out of the worst things in life.”

man’s heart is no easy thing to change. Stones are softer, sometimes.” “But that same heart breaks easily, Abel. It breaks and shatters and no one can put it together again this side of heaven.” He thought for a moment and added, “No one but the Lord.”

“A pristine manger means you own no oxen. But without the strength of the oxen, you cannot have abundant crops.” He shrugged. “What’s a little dung compared to the riches of a good harvest? If you want blessing, you must accept the manure that accompanies it.”

“You still measure yourself by the standards of this world, daughter. God has other measures. What does He care for wealth and connections? The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him. You have what He looks for, Ruth: Love. Faithfulness. Compassion. For such treasures, He searches the heart of man. In you, He found a treasure trove.”

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. God may not always answer our questions, but He walks with us in the midst of them, lest we get lost in the wilderness of our minds. Invite the Lord into your pain. Invite Him to be your sufficiency in the midst of it. I promise, He will sustain you.”