When Love's Fresh Waves of Sorrow Roll...

As soon as I shift my gaze from the 'joy still set before', sorrow is too hard to bear.As soon as I forget the Hope Christ came to earth to restore, Grief would drive me to despairBut as I think upon the goodness and mercy of One who suffered in all ways, as weSorrow, hope-stunned becomes the humble partaker of Love's Divine Sympathy Seems without trouble, sickness and sorrowHow often would haste the dayFilled with hopes and dreams of tomorrowWith never a thought to (truly, humbly) pray The other day my friend who also owns this bookEvery Moment Holy,  mentioned drew my attention to these pages...(I could have highlighted every line!) So many thoughtful friends send messages of sympathy and prayer,stunning my broken heart with hope and joyThank-you to everyone who has helped introduce my heartto fresh waves of inexpressible joy... When love's fresh waves of sorrow rollWith renewed force, through heart and soulWhen tug of warring thoughts competeBetween the bitter and the sweetWhen worlds of retrospect replayThe words we wish we still could sayWhen 'missing you' becomes a prayerOf tears that we can hardly bearWhen anguish like a vortex, reelsThrough rooms, one cannot see, but feels When ragged longing dearly yearnsFor that which death never returnsWhen we wonder what we can doTo reconcile love's 'missing you'God, who is merciful and kindBids us to come to Him and findHis comfort for Want, sorrow-torn/wornHis promises bless those who mournWhen love's fresh waves of grief deployGod's hope alone stuns grief with joy He ministers His perfect peaceAs humble, fervent prayers increaseAs sorrow's searing tempests tollHe counts the teardrops of the soulAnd ushers into love's embraceHope's hallowed glimpses of His faceHeaven on earth is undeterredAnd mountains moved through a kind wordAnd faith, frayed, wounded is made whole When love's fresh waves of sorrow roll © Janet Martin 1 Pet.1:3-9 BSBThis first week of advent we meditate on hope...Re-sharing a treasured passage of scripture A Living Hope Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hopethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,and into an inheritance that is imperishable,undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s powerfor the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.In this you greatly rejoice,though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold,which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Himand rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,now that you are receiving the goal of your faith,the salvation of your souls. (for my dear, sweet sister Lucy)