Bring the Rain

A Puritan theologian, brilliant man. I studied the book with Sarah for months, along with Romans 7 and 8, the chapters the book was based on. I often felt hopeless. This life is about repenting, turning from sin and believing in Jesus. His grace covers us, but we must strive to fight sin everyday out of our love for Him. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. But we will never be fully perfect until we see Christ in Heaven. This sin lives in us, it’s indwelling, an enemy within, its own Trojan horse living in our bodies, planning attacks all day long. How do I win when I’m destined to lose the battle daily, relying on the grace of God to forgive my failures?

Resting in His grace often left me amazed. The poor, hopeless, angry, bitter, selfish, proud person I am, full of greed and self-focused self-reflection, was forgiven by the One who cannot stand any of the characteristics I have named. He saw me in my helpless state and made a way for me to be with Him. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see!

So why this indwelling sin? I had found myself saddened by the fact that I am not sanctified yet. Often I would think of the depressing thought of always fighting sin and yet always sinning until heaven is reached.

But I watched this video from Driscoll, which I know, I tend to get a little anti-Driscoll at times, but I realize what’s I’m doing wrong. I’m living like it is up to me. It’s not. It’s by the grace of God that He gives me the strength to live, to fight, to move, to breathe, it is by the Holy Spirit that I can live a new life that bears His fruit. That I can look into death and destruction and temptation and ruin and not be afraid. That i can rest in His Almighty arms knowing I am not in control, and that is a wonderful thing. That this world could fall apart and crumble, and I would rest in my Savior’s arms.

Blessed assurance! Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!

I have found such comfort in the hymns and hopes of the early days. These brilliant minds of hundreds of years ago, going through wars and plagues and death and loss and all hopelessness, resting in their God.

Be still my soul, your God will undertake to guide the future as in ages past.