“My beloved spoke, and said to me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.’” Song of Solomon 2:10

Sweeter Music

Someone I’ve long considered a friend made some cutting remarks to me the other day. I stewed in my pain and grief, with some anger thrown in for good measure. Thank the Lord, I held my tongue, as the spiritual fruit of longsuffering has been ripening in me for a long time. But the verbal loop replayed in my mind all day, and by bedtime I fell into an exhausted slumber.

When I awoke the next morning, that trial quickly came to mind, but the whole episode had softened a bit. The sharpest edges had become mushy. I was glad I hadn’t spoken aloud the words slamming into each other in my head and heart. A godly response was called for instead of the trigger shot I’d been thinking of.

I quickly rushed to get my coffee and warm blanket so I could spend a quiet hour with Jesus to seek His help with my emotions. I needed a handle on that first. His Word always gives the direction we are to take, even we have been wronged, grieved, accused, and called names. He always “quiets me with His love.” He is faithful to bring me to the right passage just when I need it. “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11) is the Word that brought me peace.

In those moments when we’ve been hurt and wronged, often our thoughts run to getting “sweet revenge.” We want to spurt out the reasons we are right and the other person is wrong. Even if it’s true, it’s a carnal response, not led by the Spirit who lives in us. There is a sweeter music calling to us, and it brings what we want the most: joy in the Lord. To make the conscious choice to walk with Him through the valley, to do as He does, to want what He wants—this is our rest.

Indulging my desire to have the last, cutting word would not have made me happy. Rather, true happiness is found in honoring the Lord in my emotions, which will affect my words and responses to others. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

I desire the greater pleasure of finding my joy in Him. His sweeter music calls to me, “Come with Me. Let the lesser things go.” I can cultivate a desire for the greater things of Jesus by releasing the lesser things of this world.

Lord, sometimes we don’t know what the greater and lesser things are in our lives. Captivate us with Your beauty. Call us with Your sweeter music so that we desire to  follow You through the valleys. In Your own name we pray, Amen.