The first message was about grief. Normally, when you think about grief, you think about the sadness one experiences when a loved one dies. Up until a few years ago, that's all I ever thought anyone would grieve over. Over the past few years, though, my horizons have been broadened and through no real fault of anyone in particular, I have learned first-hand that a multitude of things (situations) can bring real heart-rending grief.
"O grant me wisdom from above to pray for peace and cling to love."
When we are going through something that shreds our hearts to pieces, our natural inclination isn't to bathe in peace and love. It's not mine, anyway. Actually, my heart is feeling the exact opposite of peace and love! It would only be because God hands me His wisdom that I would even know to pray for peace and love to invade my heart.
"And teach me humbly to receive the sun and rain of your Sovereignty."
I would venture to say that the majority of the population prefers sun over rain. In the Bible, the sun often refers to blessings and the rain to curses. But God is a God of balance, and He never does things TO us, but rather FOR us.
"Each strand of sorrow has a place within this tapestry of grace."
At first, you might not classify your grief as so trivial a thing as a strand. But considering that our lives are a tapestry of God's grace--when you put your grief into perspective--it really is. That's not to say it's not a really really super duper long and thick strand, but it has its place, just like everything else in our lives. It's like the song, "God's Been Good", which reminds us that we've had more gains than losses and more joy than pain. (I used to wonder at that, too, because I know some people who just seem to go from one painful situation to another, but then I remembered that if they are saved, the joy of salvation and Heaven should outweigh any earthly pain.) Also, remembering that our sorrow has its place in our lives helps me to step back and see the bigger picture of what God is doing in my life.
"So through the trials I'll choose to say, 'Your perfect will in Your perfect way.'"
No one likes going through trials, but God knows best, and His will and way are perfect. Shouldn't it be our goal, no matter what we're going through, to trust God? Only then can He be glorified, and only then can we truly have His peace.