Treasures in the Lowly Places

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“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us – a crucified God – must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.”

John Piper

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“So, tell me, what has been on your heart?”

My grandma asked the question, her gentle, caring eyes staring intently into mine as she sipped her coffee.

I took a deep breath – a joyful, calming breath – as the memories of every recent grace of God rushed through my mind. My heart skipped a couple beats as I remembered all the unexpected smiles, the vivid answers to prayer, the souls stirred.

Even now, as I sit curled up in fuzzy blankets, watching the golden rays of sun drift into the velvet night-sky, I am overwhelmed at the beauty of Him.

Mostly, God has been showing me that in all these new and enlightening things…He did not do the changing. I did. He is not changing that I may better see Him, for He is always working, whether I am willing to pay attention or not. Rather, my faith in Him is being strengthened, that I may better seek Him.

And in seeking Him…I have seen Him.

God is always stirring hearts.

I’m the one who is not always faithful enough to see it happen.

Which makes me wonder, in shame and sorrow…how much have I missed?

How many answered prayers? How many unseen questions in curious souls? Heaven forbid I have, even occasionally, focused in on my intents and selfish concerns, while missing the very work of God Himself in my life. But alas…I have.

And as I consider this very present, overwhelming reality, I am completely broken before Him. Because I know He is beautiful. My soul knows well the power and worth of His name.

I know His love is healing broken hearts…bringing the dead to life. I know His hope is rising ever on the glorious wings of the dawn.

My heart knows these are the treasures in the lowly places.

And I don’t want to miss it.

Treasure in the Quiet of Today

I have been recently struggling with focusing my heart on the beauty of today. This is something I talk about often on my blog because it is a very real and present struggle for my heart.

I dearly love the people and ministries of this season in my life, but sometimes the desire to be someplace I am not currently intended to be is pressed on my heart. This desire is easy to wave off as good, biblical, or even admirable. A teen desiring to do more to see the world reached for Christ? Isn’t that justifiable? Praiseworthy, even?

The more I ponder it, the more I consider it to be a tactic of satan to draw me away from the pursuit of God in this mere breath.

Here is beautiful. Simply because it is where God has planted me. If I’m always waiting for ‘there’ I will never impact anywhere, because I can only ever be right here. Here is the ground I stand on. Here is the air I breathe. And here He beckons me to “be still and know.” For here is the garden my Father has planted me in to teach me the beauty of contentment, purpose, and surrender.

– August 8, 2023 (from my journal)

He has called me here.

And I will bloom brightly.

Because I don’t want to miss today’s treasures in the lowly places.

Treasure in the Desert Gardens

There have been times of late when I have had to hold on to one text with all my might: “it is required in stewards that a man may be found faithful.” Praise God, it does not say “successful”

-Amy Carmichael

I have prayed many thanks to God that He does not ask me to present Him with fruit in others’ lives. He asks for my faithfulness…not my gain. For He is my gain. As Paul so beautifully, and rightly, wrote.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

-Philippians 3:8

This verse has weighed heavy on my heart this week. In the deepest shadows of my soul, I hear His still, small whisper: do you count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Me? Am I enough?

Is He enough?

Is He worth more to me than the visible growth of various seeds I have planted in the lives of others? Am I willing to surrender my desire to see fruit in those I have prayed for that I might remain faithful in all His intents for my life?

Is He really enough for me?

As I have reflected on this, I know that I am human and will always present flaws in my love for, and surrender to, Him during my earthly life. But with my every desire, I long to count all as loss that I might gain Christ. For isn’t He wonderful? Isn’t He beautiful?

Isn’t He enough for me?

He is.

And in that I rest hopeful…confident in trusting that He will present treasures in even the lowly places. For He is the treasure my soul craves. 

Therefore, even in the desert, where seeds of life may be rejected by the stubborn, dusty ground…I will delight in the precious rays of golden light reflected by the Sun. I will rejoice in the endless sky and Breath of heaven. I will dance in the desert…relishing every moment He grants me there. For He is my reward, and He is moving there.

And I don’t want to miss it.

Treasure in the Still of Closed Doors and Lost Paths

Life is grandly simple when we reach that point, when the spirit of calculating results and consequences has been left behind and when God himself, and no mere experience, is our exceeding great reward.

– Lilias Trotter

In our expectations of His purposes and intents for our lives, how often do we forget to simply seek Him? Which, really, is almost humorous for isn’t that our true purpose?

I think sometimes we view still moments, closing doors, and lost paths as mistakes in our walks with God. As though we are missing something grand and important. But what if we’re gaining something?

What if God uses the walls and broken bridges in our journeys to slow us into needing Him again?

If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things. It is we, of course, to whom things look “little” or “big.”

– Elisabeth Elliot

If our hearts, get too focused on a reflection of His heart…is it not actually a grace for Him to overwhelm us with need for Him? For in doing so, He also gently reminds us of the beauty of knowing Him. He reminds that it is not about me…or you…or us. And He reminds that we are first called to love Him. It is out of that love that all things of heavenly value flow.

In the unforeseen barriers, He is teaching us a deep and lasting love…from which Glory’s treasure brightly burns.

And I don’t want to miss it.

Treasure in the Lowly Places, the Highly Places, the Holy Lands

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

– Philippians 3:20

If my heart is set on Glory…mustn’t my heart ultimately be set on Him? For what is the light of Heaven without Him? And what is my eternal gain without His mercy?

The beauty of “the Day” is the God who has won it.

And that God is also the beauty of the low places.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

– 1 Corinthians 13:12-13

In our moments of emptiness – when we desire to see something for our efforts – the solution is not to work harder, pray more, or plant deeper. Though, yes, these are all good and necessary things. The truest path to treasures in the lowly places, is simply seeking, knowing, and loving God.

He is the treasure in the lowly place.

And He is moving in those lands. He is moving in the still. He is working in the quiet of our souls.

 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

– Philippians 3:16

As we grow in His love, and our love for Him, we will learn that the treasure is simply found in knowing Him. We will find a glimpse of Heaven as a fraction of creation’s original harmony is restored in our deep dependence upon God.

The “surpassing worth of knowing Christ” brings unfathomable, unspeakable beauty to every moment of the day. For He is there, in every moment, faithful and true.

The treasure in the lowly place…and the highest place…and everywhere…is Christ.

And I don’t want to miss it.

Because I don’t want to miss Him.