“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8
I love how the Lord strings His truths together like lights on a wire. His Word is alive like that. It’s light. When we’re groping around in the dark, He leads us steady on the straight path of truth-lights, strung together so we don’t lose our way.
He did this with me the other day. I was thinking of this verse-
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13
I have found myself “grieving like the rest” a lot…it’s pretty easy to do. I find myself getting bitter when I see husbands and wives on dates, or just hanging out…or when I see pictures of families on vacation together.
I can’t go on a date with my husband. I can’t grow old with him. Sure, the kids and I can go on a vacation, but he won’t be there. My mind travels down the road of all of the things I can’t share with him…tell him…of all of our plans that won’t ever happen. It’s a quick downward spiral into a dark, depressing pit. My mind can camp out in the pity tent, all alone and bitter and sad. Sometimes it’s just easier. Sometimes I just want to be there.
But the Holy Spirit in me gives me a glimpse of that string of truth-lights…the one I’ve wandered away from to camp out in my dark pity tent. He whispers that I don’t grieve like this. He whispers that I grieve like one that has “this hope as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…” (Hebrews 6:19). I forget that I have this Steadfast Anchor when all these waves come, trying to fling me around and drown me.
He always interrupts my pity parties with Truth. He always interrupts my dark thoughts with His Light. He never lets me stay there in that pit…He never lets me wallow in alone-ness. He reminds me of His promise…that I’m never alone. He never leaves, He never forsakes.
Oh, what Grace.
I have been memorizing Philippians 4:8 for months now. It’s amazing how many times this verse has come to my rescue since I’ve been dwelling on it.
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8
This is the truth-light that followed, after the Lord reminded me that I don’t grieve like someone without hope. He reminded me where I’m supposed to be dwelling. And it’s not in the pity tent. It’s in the lovely.
How do we do this when we’re grieving? How do we dwell on lovely?
We remember Truth. We dwell on truth.
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
When Guy was battling his brain cancer, his mentor/my “spiritual father” kept reminding me of this verse. This is Truth. Guy’s inner man was being strengthened by the Spirit of God within him, even though his “outer man was decaying”. (Ours is too. But when we are abiding in Christ, His Spirit within us is renewing us daily, making us stronger in Him and more like Him, as we also move closer to the Finish Line.)
This “light (although it feels heavy now), momentary affliction is producing for us an ‘eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison’.” What is Guy experiencing now? There is some lovely to dwell on! He’s healed and whole and in the presence of Jesus. What will we experience when we step into eternity?
1 Corinthians 2:9 says “But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived–God has prepared these things for those who love him’.”
Our heart and head can’t even wrap around what God has prepared for us.
My vision gets so near-sighted. I look at the things that are seen…and these things are all decaying. They are temporary. There are unseen things, and these things are eternal. I have to put my eternal glasses on…and that means focusing on Scripture, on the reality that life is temporary and it’s a long-distance race that calls for endurance, focus, clear vision of the finish line. Fixing our eyes on Jesus… because being with Him, in His presence eternally, is our glorious reward at the finish line.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Jesus endured the cross…the worst possible death…for the joy set before Him. Lord, let me also focus on the joy set before me. Give me strength to endure all of the struggles and suffering…these “momentary, light afflictions”.
We can grieve. Scripture doesn’t tell us NOT to grieve. But we don’t grieve like those without hope. We follow the string of truth-lights that keep us on the path…that keep us from wandering into the darkness. We hold on to the Steadfast Anchor of Hope that keeps us from drowning in endless waves. We grieve while continuing to run steady towards the unseen eternal…the eternal weight of glory that will make all of our “afflictions” seem so light when we get to see Jesus face to face.
Like David, when our soul gets down in the dark pit, we have to remind it what to do. We have to do some soul-talk.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11
Steady on the path of truth-lights, soul.
❤️Nicole
“Search for the LORD and for His strength; seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4