I wrote this poem on August 17, 2014. I was in a lot of pain at the time. This was a very dark period in my life and I really struggled to find God. God isn’t in the business of destroying our lives, rather he desires to ease the burdens of life. I was reading that day from Matthew 11, where Jesus was talking about judgement for sin. I recall struggling with what was happening in my life at the time and thinking that my pain was my own fault (in many ways, it is my own fault). But Jesus words at the end of that chapter spoke to me and this poem came from what he said. Matthew 11:28-30 read: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Destruction and Restoration
Written August 17, 2015
As I sit and survey the world around me today,
I can only wonder what tomorrow may bring.
To my awesome God, let my praises ring.
I sing to Him, but my hurts seem to rule the day.
My life, as I’ve always known it to be,
is gone away never to return. It seems so unfair.
I sit here now broken and crying in despair,
“My God, my God, why did this happen to me?”
As suddenly as the destruction came upon me,
God’s presence and love was easily felt.
Once again, I was struggling, but His spirit indwelt.
Destruction isn’t His plan, He died to set me free.
I must take His yoke upon me in place of the one I carried before.
His spirit within me need only be allowed to work his will.
Not my will, but yours, my Lord, you’ve tried to instill.
Any burden I have, I give over to you to keep forevermore.