tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post1446378400056241312..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: Does God protect us even when we suffer and enter into trials?Fr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-40307221008996387962014-12-08T17:18:32.191+08:002014-12-08T17:18:32.191+08:00WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED
God hath not promised ski...WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED<br /> <br />God hath not promised skies always blue,<br />Flower strewn pathways all our lives through,<br />God hath not promised sun without rain,<br />Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.<br /> <br />But God hath promised strength for the day,<br />Rest for the labor, light for the way,<br />Grace for the trials, help from above,<br />Unfailing sympathy, undying love.<br /> <br />God hath not promised we shall not know<br />Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;<br />He hath not told us we shall not bear<br />Many a burden, many a care<br /> <br />God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,<br />Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;<br />Never a mountain rocky and steep,<br />Never a river turbid and deep.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dearest Fr Luke,<br />When I read your reflection today, immediately the poem above popped into my head, and out of curiosity I did a search for the author, of the poem that held so much wisdom. <br /><br />Her name is Annie Johnson Flint, 1866-1932, and as I read about her, I felt she must be one of the many uncanonised saints… being non-Catholic. <br /><br />I will like to share her testimony – The many crosses to bear (obtained from google) http://cavaliersonly.com/poetry_by_christian_poets_of_the_past/testimony_of_annie_johnson_flint<br /><br />Her analogy of crosses along the growth of a Christian coincided with a new experience I had over the weekend… that we are called for more transformation of ourselves than we dare imagine. We are all called to move from milk to meat in our spiritual diet … the only thing holding us back… is our fears. But the reward in trusting God is what our hearts yearns for. He is our Creator, to whom shall we go? He is still the ever generous gentle God, blessing us every day; it is only us who failed to see His blessings as it is. <br /><br />Quoting you - God shows us that he is ‘sustaining us in all things’ gives us new eyes and new hearts to look at these events not with our minds, but with a new heart. God’s presence in our lives and in our world does not prevent tragedy. It is what helps us go through the pains and tragedies themselves, much like the way that Jesus went through the pains and tragedies of the Cross.<br /><br />A very comforting song I will like to dedicate to all who may at this point in time, overwhelmed with sadness & trials – To take heart and to trust...Our Lord will carry you … http://youtu.be/zF7suDGLO8k <br /><br />Keeping all in prayers. <br /><br />Take care Fr Luke. <br />Thank you for your faithfulness in your vocation.<br /><br />LauraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com