SONG OF THE BARREN

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"Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the Lord.
Isaiah 54:1 ESV

¶

So many people think that the achievement of a successful career constitutes a meaningful life. But the number of children we have, the number of friends we know, the number of companies owned, the number of nonprofits served, none of this compares to the joy of knowing Jesus, seeing Him, and reflecting His glory. On the other hand, there are those who recognize that desolation and barrenness are a shorter path to the way of the cross. But there are snares to our pride there as well. Anything we try to use to advantage ourselves from our position as helpless broken sinners before God is at best a distraction, and more likely an idolatry.
"All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood."
Isaac Watts, 1707
(His words, not mine!)
 

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