When my heart is breaking, You are my strong tower

Sometimes the "veil of this world" hides the spiritual battle from my eyes. That is not the case right now. As my daily life is filled with fun and family, a spiritual battle that cannot be ignored rages all around. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark work and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians)

The drive from the mountains to the Springs was at a particularly low time. On that drive, though, a multitude of encouraging songs came on the Christian radio station. And this time I really heard these words....


I have unanswered prayers......
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands
---JJ Heller

Don’t know where to begin,
it’s like my world’s caving in....
Where do I go from here?........
So let the waters rise if You want them to
I will follow You, I will follow You.....
God You know where I’ve been, You were there with me then
You were faithful before, You’ll be faithful again
----Mikeschair

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
When you and I embrace surrender
When you and I choose to believe
Then you and I will see who we were meant to be
----Chris Tomlin

All my dreams have gone astray.
When I’m stranded in the valley
And I’m tired and all alone
It seems like I’ve lost my way
I go running to your mountain.
Where your mercy sets me free
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me, beautiful and mighty, everlasting king
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I’m weak
Your name is true and holy
And your face is all I see
Your face is all I see
----Kutless

I can't deny the tears and the frustration, "....but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5) In the midst of this, God is working out Scripture in our lives before our very eyes. I hope that you see it, too, in your own life and struggles that...."have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed......for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1)

What I see as a distraction, a frustration, God sees as formation, creating in our family a little more of Jesus Christ.