Can we have a life that is full of joy that never ceases in our lifetime and even eternally? As a child, I had no hope of it because of an illness that made kids tease me. It was so painful until one Sunday I heard the song, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” at the age of 9. When we came to the words, “our griefs of bear”, it was as if I heard Jesus say to my heart, “Molly, I want to be your Friend, for I know how you feel.”
Immediately I had a hope that has never left me and Christ became my dearest Friend and Saviour. I did not like to read, but He put a love for His word in my heart that seemed to make me read it every day. I even started going on my own to church on Sunday and Wednesday nights. I was trying to do things that I thought pleased God.
The last 2 years of high school, I seemed to be over my illness, though the doctor had said it would only be milder. I ended up married with 3 young kids, but wondered if the Lord just wanted me to be a housewife and mother since I had been free of the illness so long. I prayed and asked the Lord to cleanse me of the things that would keep me from knowing Him intimately and to let me know that I was 100% in His will.
A few weeks later my husband lost his job with the airlines and we lost our house. For the first time, being a believer in Christ, I knew this was God working in our lives and that He had control. It put within me a power to face the many trials that followed for I had to get a job to make ends meet. We had to move many times, trying to find him a job. After ten more years, I cried out to God and said to “put me on His shelf and never use me, I give up trying to please You.”
Immediately He said to my heart, “I’m glad you gave up, because I have been jealous of you.” He then asked me, “Do you love My Word? Do you love to worship Me? Do you love to testify of Me?” I said yes to them all. The Lord then said, “That love you have is not you because you died with My Son, and that Love is Christ in you!” (Gal. 2:20; 5:22, 23; Col. 3:3, 4; John 14:21; 17:3; Ps. 40:3) From that point on in 1983, I have never had any fear (1John 4:18, 19) and His Love and Joy has filled me continually to overflowing. (1Peter 1:6-8)
I’ll be sharing the continual cleansing the Lord does in my soul and here is the first poem I wrote upon receiving this Rest of Soul. (Heb. 4:10-12; Matt. 11:29) I call it, Thanksgiving. I praise You for showing me That my works, though pure and good, Were only filthy rags to You; For with spiritual pride they stood. I praise You for Your Love and Grace That caused my eyes to see The Spirit of Your Son within Who cries to live this life for me. I praise You for allowing me To enter Your Blessed Rest Where there’s ne’er a thirst nor hunger; Just feasting on You each test. Trials come, and I no more endure. From You they are pure gold. From them I experience You As You make me into Your mold. Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!! O’ what joy in knowing You. Knowing my will’s been lost in Thine, And my life is now pleasing to You. MPD 11/83