Resting in Joy

The heart is full of gratitude and it wants to pen down the joy of simple things.  Grand things.  Answered prayer.  And yet, it doesn't quite know how to express itself in the written word.

Until the Spirit takes over.

And then, all words start to point to the glory of The One.  The Holy One.  The One who invaded my whole being so that He might make Himself known to those He puts me in contact with.  The One who died so that I might live.

The songs of the birds are more sweet outside your window when you feed them.  The male cardinal is a glorious shade of red, pudgy from all the nourishment.  He sings a beautiful tune.  He loves to be on display.  He enjoys the spectacular.

The female cardinal remains hidden.  Until she moves and you realize she was there all along.  Her beauty is a quiet one.  She is content to be in the background, preparing to birth new life.  Her tune is pure.  But it is not spectacular.  She flourishes in the humility.

Our God is spectacular.  He created uncountable universes and planets.  Atoms and cells.  Birds and fish.  He is all glory and even created the trees to dance to the rhythm of His grace.

Our God is all humility.  He sent His One and Only Son.  Child.  Heir.  Pride and Joy.  To be born.  In a stable.  With manure all around.  Mice burrowed under the hay while the Savior of the world took his first breath of air. 

He is sometimes spectacular and on display. 
He is sometimes hidden.

He is always worthy of our adoration.

While telling Elijah to look for Him, Elijah didn't find Him in the wind.  Or the earthquake.  Or the fire.  His presence was to be found in a gentle whisper.  There is nothing spectacular about a whisper.  And yet it is glorious. 

Do we always look for our Jesus to show up in the spectacular? 
Do we leave room for Him to whisper into our souls?

The joy of answered prayer has been written upon the pages of my heart.
And today, I rest in that joy.