Soul Snack 8/63 ... Pain delivers Presence
The pleasant vista before him engaged all his 5 senses. The scent of the gums, the blue hues of the distant ranges and the birds chirping busily in the branches above.
Relaxed and refreshed he mulled over what had been and what might become.
This thought came to him rather surprisingly, as it was a pleasant and unusual state. With great gratitude he now bowed to the Lord '... how can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?' (Ps 116:12)
Affliction had been resident in this turbulent life. Pain never too far away. Adulthood had only added to, indeed magnified, the burdens of childhood. Yet as he silently sat, this was now behind him.
In my alarm I said,
"I am cut off from your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help. Ps 31:22
He prayed through God's deliverance, he praised God for his repentance. This living soul had met the living God while he was still living.
The goodness of his troubles had ushered him to a meeting (many meetings) most only have at death (when it's too late.) He had met God.
To meet with God while still alive is something so many miss, but he had not. Pain delivers His Presence.