Trusting the Giver

Perhaps you, too, have camped by such sweet waters,
And quenched with joy your weary, parched soul's thirst;
To find, as time goes on, your streamlet alters
From what it was at first.

Hearts that have cheered, or soothed, or blest, or strengthened;
Loves that have lavished unreservedly;
Joys, treasured joys - have passed, as time has lengthened,
Into obscurity.

If then, O soul, the brook your heart has cherished
Does fail you now - no more your thirst assuage-
If its once glad refreshing streams have perished,
Let HIM your heart engage.

He will not fail, nor mock, nor disappoint you;
His comfort and care change not with the years;
With oil of joy He surely will anoint you,
And wipe away your tears.

J. Danson Smith

This poem was part of a short devotional that a co-worker handed me in the hall today at school. She said she had read it as part of her quite time this morning and thought of me so she decided to pass it along. I was very grateful for it really did speak to my heart. I think her intention was to comfort me in my recent break-up, but I don't think she intended for the impact that it had.

As I sat and pondered all this short 5 paragraphs had to say, one point really jumped out at me. "One way or the other, we must all learn the difference between trusting in the gift and trusting in the Giver." Meaning that there will come a time when the gifts the Lord has blessed us with will be altered, whether it be the gift of a spouse, or children, or even teaching, they will be changed over time. At the point when those are changed we find out where our true trust has been all along.

Of course I thought of Jeremy and the "season" I spent with him, though it was short, however as I considered the gifts God has placed in my life I began to realize how many different places I tend to trust in the gift and not necessarily the giver. The biggest one I found was in my voice. Since I was a young child I have been known as the girl that can sing. As I grew my love for music developed over time and though in High School I was known more as the best flute player, my identity was still centered around my musical abilities. Even now I am known as the music teacher by many. I even find that part of my identity in Christ is centered around my voice. When I am singing is when I feel most connected to God. When I sing antiphonally I find God uses my voice to speak truth into my life.

What if the gift of my voice was taken from me? It is not impossible, many things could cause such a phenomenon to occur. Would something that would seem to me as such a tragedy cause me to lose trust in the Giver just because I no longer had the gift?

No, was the resounding answer my heart cried, as I spent hours in study and prayer. Though my voice is a large part of who I am, it is not all of who I am. My identity isn't found in the gifts God has given me, my identity is found in the fact that I am a Child of God. He loves me so deeply and passionately. Even if everything I know and trust here on this earth were taken away, God would never leave me or forsake me.

I must remember that gifts are just temporary but the Giver of the gifts is only thing that is eternal. The world around me will constantly change but Jesus Christ will always remain the same.