Come to Me

This is the season of joy, celebration, love, and so much that uplifts. These same characteristics of the season, however, can seem to exacerbate the pain, distress, questions, and uncertainty that are often present during difficult times.  I am praying that the lyrics of the song, “Come unto Me,” by Nicole Mullen will remind us that the One Whose birth we celebrate, our God Who became flesh for us, continually whispers His invitation, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).  He still offers the incomprehensible exchange of His beauty for our ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). Beloved, let us accept His invitation and receive the strength and grace that He alone can give.

Lyrics

Are you looking for someone to be gentle
With your broken heart your shattered dreams
And are you searching for someone who'll be faithful
To you no matter what life brings
Well I know the maker of the storm the sunrise
He is both the lion and the lamb
He is strong enough to shake all earth and heaven
Yet meek enough to take me as I am.

He says come unto me
All who are weary
And I will give you rest
Bring what hurts
Bring your scars
Bring the load that you carry
And I will give you rest

Are the clouds above your head oh so heavy
Bursting with showers of despair
And do you struggle under more then you can carry
Has life given more then you can bear
And would you like to trade your failures in for victories
Like piles of ashes in for piles of gold
And can you fall down like a child who is helpless
So he can pick you up and make you whole

He says come unto me
All who are weary
And I will give you rest
Bring what hurts
Bring your scars
Bring the load that you carry
And I will give you

la la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la la

Come---
All who are weary
And I will give you rest
Bring what hurts
Bring your scars
Bring the load that you carry
And I will give you

Come---
All who are weary
Come---
All who are weary
(Riff several lines)
He says come!

Nelson Mandela

The death of Nelson Mandela has hit me hard. It does not matter that he was 95 and I never met him in person. The quality of his life and the lessons he taught about forgiveness, and selflessness, and humility, and his dedication to ending oppression regardless of the color of the oppressor and the oppressed are of such magnitude, how can I not grieve his passing even as I celebrate his life?

I think of the fact that he was in prison for 27 years, most of which involved hard labor and deprivations I cannot comprehend. I think of him and find myself thinking about Moses who was in the wilderness for 40 years. And Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely charged, and imprisoned.

I think of these individuals and how these difficult circumstances changed and prepared them for the work for which I believe they were created, and which touched the lives of millions. It is interesting to note that former prisoners were used to free millions of oppressed persons or save millions from starvation during a long famine.

I have heard that suffering is part of God’s preparation for those He uses. I have no expectation that I will be used in the way Mr. Mandela, Moses, and Joseph were; however, I pray for the courage and grace to walk through difficult circumstances and emerge from them free from bitterness and all that will impair, even defeat His purpose in my life. I pray the same for you.