THRIVE

This song by Casting Crowns appropriately entitled Thrive, really sunk deep into my spiritual veins. Here is the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jNJ59o4QgE

But beyond the music, which is in my opinion stellar listen to these words:

Here in this worn and weary land
Where many a dream has died
Like a tree planted by the water
We never will run dry

So living water flowing through
God, we thirst for more of You
Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire

Just to know You and to make You known
We lift Your name on high
Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive

Into Your word, were digging deep
To know our Fathers heart
Into the world, were reaching out

To show them who You are

Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable
Love unstoppable, anything is possible

So these are the words. I know that it is possible to more than just survive. Even through the hardest times in our lives. Our Savior could have just survived His mortal experience but where would that leave us? What if He had never felt our PAIN? What if He had never felt our SICKNESS? Oh He could have survived alright but would He have really known US? Known us in a deep, intimate way? Those experiences required thriving. What about Gethsamane? Could He have gone through it without thriving? And in that very moment He didn't have the Light I am sure He was accustom to. Oh how that much have broken our Father's heart.

On a much. much smaller scale in life we WILL experience those times when that Light is removed for but a brief time. Or where we want with all we have to thrive but all we can must is to survive and the Lord will honor our effort. Why? Because He loves us. He loves you PERFECTLY. He loves me PERFECTLY. Even though I am far from loving myself the same way. 

May we ever feel His grace, love and Light during those times. Our Savior is the Light of the World and He knows how to best succor us. Those times can be tough. Some times we want to quit. But He WILL be there. You know why? Because HIS love knows no end. He loves us perfectly. And one day we will love ourselves and others the same way. Line upon line. And more importantly grace upon grace.