Who am I, that God should care for me? Who am I, that He cares to know my name? Who am I, that Christ should die for me?

“I am a flower, quickly fading, a wave tossed in the ocean…”  My life, my days, are like a vapor, quickly disappearing.

… For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4: 14

And all the things of this world, this earth, are under His dominion, and all of the things of this earth, all that is temporal, will fade away.

Yet my spirit will live in heaven one day, with Him. When this world and its people fling abuse at me, and it covers me head to toe, God wipes away the tears, and like looking through an opening through a dirty window, my spirit rises within me to look above and see a God who cares and looks down upon me with mercy and compassion. And that is the hope that gives me the will to get through another day. When I think I can’t face more of the same, to face more criticism, judgment, abuse, harshness, God is the hope inside me. Truly without Him, there would be no more reason to live.

He says, “This is not what I created you for. This is not what I have planned for you. ”  So, then I ask, “What do you have planned for me, God? Where are you, my Deliverer? What is your plan? What are you going to do? How will you take care of me? I’m waiting and watching. I have no hope in man. I only have hope in you.”

When this life seems unbearable, I come even closer and closer to that glory and light. I hold onto the promises tighter. I rely upon them. I believe. I have faith in God and His words. Nothing else is permanent.  I can’t trust the words of men and this world. Man’s words, and his promises, are like dust, just like man. If man is only made of dust, how can his words be more than that? But your word, Oh God, is living, alive and true. You keep your word. You are faithful. You keep your promises. Your character can do no less.

God, I thank you! Your word promises me that suffering is molding me more into your image, into Christ’s image! That indeed is something I can be thankful for, grateful for… I am awestruck by your care for me. That you should care for a fading flower is an amazing thought. While I am afflicted and dragged down in this world, you are making something beautiful in the heavenly realm. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ” Romans 8:18

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. ” I Peter 4: 1-2