Learning His Song

In the full light of day and in hearing of the music of other voices, the caged bird will not sing the song that his master seeks to teach him. He learns a snatch of this, a trill of that, but never a separate and entire melody. But the master covers the cage , and places it where the bird will listen to the one song he is to sing. In the dark he tries and tries again to sing that song until it is learned, and he breaks forth in perfect melody. Then the bird is brought forth and ever after he can sing that song in the light. Thus God deals with His children. He has a song to teach us and when we have learned it amid the shadows of affliction we can sing it ever afterward. (The Ministry of Healing, pg. 472)

It is difficult to envision God actively leading us into situations which brings hurt and suffering into our lives. We prefer to blame the devil for all our pain, heartaches and griefs. Yet it is none other than the master himself who carries the bird into darkness. Yes, my friends, God actively takes part in leading us into dark and dismal situations where we experience deep anguish and sorrow. At such times we are sorely tempted to doubt God's leading.  Sometimes we even pray for the crisis to be removed, not recognizing that its intended work has not yet been accomplished in our lives.

Like the Israelites of old we do not fully comprehend why God would lead us to a barren wasteland or to the bitter waters /of Marah where our thirst cannot be assuaged. What about when He leads us to a Red Sea experience where we are bound on both sides; the enemy is behind us and to step into the water seems to invite death? Friends of mine, we do not have to understand God's leading.  What we need is to trustfully follow it.

God may see it fit to lead us into strait places where we can fully appreciate our insufficiency. It is in such moments that we willingly cast our helpless souls on Him and receive the divine aid that we need. We learn finally to sing His song.  So then... could it be possible that God leads some of His children to the bitter waters of divorce, domestic violence, poverty, terminal illnesses, loss of homes, financial embarrassment, bankruptcy, rape, accidents?  Dare we follow His leading even to the valley of the shadow of death? 

May God help us to do so trustfully as we learn to sing His song.

Love you all.  Remember... Stop and smell the roses.

Verne