Beckoned by the chirping of my phone, I opened the text message from a friend who shared a poem representing her personal prayer for the year. Powerful words connected to a beautiful melody. 

Whate’er my God ordains is right, 

His holy will abideth; 

I will be still whate’er He does, 

And follow where He guideth.  

In this broken world, many endure circumstances they know will not resolve this side of heaven. Perhaps you have found yourself pounding on the door of grace as you face debilitating challenges and crisis after crisis. Author and blogger Leslie Schmucker’s book reminded me today that “God allows, even encourages, faith-filled laments and queries from His people.” As my family walks through a painful season, I, too, must remember that I can trust Him during life’s pain, questions, and uncertainties. His promises can be trusted amid grief and anguish that overstay their welcome. 

Could acceptance be a part of what is meant when the New Testament talks about the need to “take up our cross?” Joni Eareckson Tada explains in her book, Songs of Sorrow, that taking up our cross is more than merely resigning, submitting, yielding, coping, or complying. It is more than dryly accepting our burdens. We are not helped by comparing our lot in life with others who seem to have it easy. Joni goes on to share that, “When you die to whining or constantly chafing against your afflictions, God strengthens you with His resurrection power, enabling you to prefer Christ over comfort, the Lord over leisure, and even embrace the Redeemer when there is no relief from pain. Only the power of the resurrection enables you to lift your cross with grace.” 

He is my God, though dark my road; 

He holds me that I shall not fall; 

And so to Him I leave it all. 

And so to Him I leave it all. 

Wherever in the world we find ourselves, by His grace, may we learn to rejoice as we accept all that God allows as coming from One who knows and does what is best. And so to Him, we leave it all.