Between the Bars : Chastening

Oct. 28, 2012

Chastening

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by Gary Field (author's profile)

uploaded Oct. 28, 2012. Original (PDF) pdf

Chastening

The chastening of a righteous God
Had brought me to my knees.
A world of woe, a sea of grief,
And of harsh realities.

But to understand why
I needed just one sentence -
"For godly sorrow
Worketh repentance."

You'll find the mighty hand of God
Won't always just "lift you up".
Perhaps part of his plan may be
That we sip from sorrow's cup.

Like gold tried in the fire,
Impurities are burned away.
And our trials can lift us higher.
We're shaped and then baked like clay.

Can the vessel say to the potter,
"Why do you pound me this way?"
Would it have been better off,
If it were left as a lump of clay?

So though life seems to pound us,
And fiery trials confound us,
The love of God still surrounds us,
As we struggle on our way.

But don't be dismayed, nor surprised.
When disobeyed, He will chastise.

Like a wayward son
By a loving father
If He didn't love you,
Then He wouldn't bother.

Until -

Like the prodigal child,
With a kiss and a smile
He will welcome you back.

Kill the fatted calf
On your behalf,
And provide what you lack.

So when it seems that you have fallen,
And once again - you've landed hard,
That's the time you should be calling
And reaching for the hand of God.

He will lead you through the fire,
He will lead you through the flood
By the hand of the Messiah,
Once you learn to plead the blood.