This past week God brought another old song to my memory, and had me revisit an old post from August of 2016. You can read it by clicking here
In that post, I talked about being a corner-sitter. How I’ve always been a corner-sitter,
“I’ve a confession to make. I am a corner-sitter. Have been, for most of my life in fact. Anytime sickness came, I found a spot, settled there, and pushed everyone else away. Let me focus on my chores, and grudgingly get through these bad days, then I’ll rejoin the human race when I feel better. “
But as I read that post I realized something: Over these past 2 1/2 years since I wrote those words, God has called my name, and invited me to see the corner with new eyes. He has uncovered something in me that always felt like a trap when weakness came over me.
From the Corner
The corner had trapped me again
Or had it?
Was it my own binding?
Roping it in, bridling my heart.
“Why did YOU send me here?”
“Why does the pain tie me here?”
He led me to the corner
for visions not seen yet.
I hitched up to the rail
for eyes tight-fisted shut.
I wanted to just get thru
To wrestle the pain of night.
He wanted to meet me here
To wrestle darkness into light.
I thought the pain was a fire
Burning thru joints and skin.
His fire was lingering above
Burning HIS glory within.
He called my name
The corner blazed aloft
No bridle, no clasp
Barebacked heart now soft
Lifted up to Heavenly places
No more corner sitting
Rivers of water now flow
In places of corner SINGING.
–bg
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38 NIV
On that original post, a sweet friend had commented: “You might be a corner-sitter, but you also join a sisterhood of online friends when you share your journey with us!” And in my reply to her I was reminded of this Scripture:
”You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” Hebrews 12:22-23 NIV
In these months of pain flares, medication side effects, and shaking weariness, My Lord has met me with gifts from His own dear hand. His gifts have come in the stillness of the night when He covered me with His feathers; they have come in the daylight when His Words have sunk deep into my soul; and they have come through sweet touches by other souls in His family. These places of pain and anguish? They were never meant to be carried alone, because the treasures that He brings into those darkened days are gifts for all of us journeying together.
So on those days when fear rises up in me again concerning medication failures and painful trials, the comfort of His convictions brings me to a deeper surrender, and my heart cannot keep silent in the corner any longer. There is beauty in the conviction He brings because surrender always carries the gift of God’s dear presence.
So from this corner I will call out HIS name, until He moves me on.
What was the song that stirred all of these thoughts? The creation crying out God’s name all around us:
On the night that I had finished these words, my hands relaxed enough that I thought I could join in with the #Marchgluebookparty over on Instagram. You can see my Insta post here. What peace came to me as I glued down the words that I thought matched the flowers for the prompt of “The very first of spring.” After I had finished my post, I decided to search for the Scripture that the Lord wanted to give me for the page. It wasn’t until I was writing the words across the top of the page that I realized what the words were speaking:
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land. Song of Songs 2:12 NIV
(Image of tulips by artist Kris Mahen, cut out from “At the Lake,” a Lake Geneva regional magazine.)
Have you ever felt trapped in a corner with no way out? Would you look up with me to hear the call of ONE who is leading such a beautiful song?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Your own dear Son to bring back the song into our lives. Thank You that Your voice is singing through the Words of Him, the Living Word, calling us to join in. Will You forgive us for the times that we have chosen to leave the chorus? We are amazed that You have continued to sing over us, even then! Would You lift the breath in our lungs to join You in singing? Thank You that no corner could ever stop that precious song of worship from being raised throughout every moment of our days! Your song of praise is the most joyous sound of our lips.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.
I am linking with:
BettieGsRAseasons 
BettieG – Have I ever felt trapped in a corner? Yes, too many times to count. Thanks for the reminder to look up to the only ONE that can truly help us. It was good to read your hands were feeling up to the task of joining in on something you had been wanting to do. It’s been a long time since I’ve been by to comment, so it was good to read your words today. we are neighbors at #LMM today.
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Dear Debbie,
It’s always wonderful to have you visit here! Yes, I was so very thankful that the Lord gave me such a blessing to work on that art journal page. He spoke just what I needed to hear, to keep looking up to Him, that ONE who can truly help us, as you said! Blessings, and love to you!
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I love this so much, Bettie. No corner can keep us from praising God right where we are! I love your whole poem but this is so meaningful:
“I wanted to just get thru
To wrestle the pain of night.
He wanted to meet me here
To wrestle darkness into light.”
Such a contrast of wanting to wrestle and get through but Jesus wreslting the darkness into light! Thank you for sharing your heart. The song can never be silenced no matter how hard the enemy tries. I love the Rich Mullins song, too. Blessings, love and hugs to you my dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo
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Dear Gayl,
Oh thank you for being such an encouragement to me to keep listening to the Lord through these hard times. I know your prayers have been so vital! And you are right, there is such a contrast between our wrestling and Jesus wrestling for us, to bring us into His light! I am so glad that we share a love of Rich Mullins’s songs too. Blessings, love, and hugs to you dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo
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I appreciate the calm to not go silent in the corners of our lives. You’re right, Bertie! And this is beautiful!
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Bettie! That’s what I get for typing on my phone!!
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Oh, Amy I do that same thing on my phone with the auto correct! 🙂 So very thankful that Jesus brings us His own calm that is the best peace! He is so good to sing over us and to call us to join with Him right there. So precious of Him! Blessings to you!
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Here’s from another corner-sitter! I checked your link from 2016 and noted that your full name is Elizabeth. “in the nature preserve with my name in it: Lake Elizabeth Nature Trail.” The flower you chose on this blog post (with the promise from Isaiah 45:3) also has your name in some parts of the world.
The Impatiens Walleriana is a favorite within many households within the UK and the US and named “busy lizzie” in the UK and patient lucy within the US. In Finland, it is called diligent Lisa! Whatever name we or the flower may have, the promise of hidden treasure is true even in dark places we might have to go through. NLT: And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
You truly have found treasures in your corner – enough to share with others.
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Oh Lisa,
Your words bring tears to my eyes! I have knows that name for the flower, Busy Lizzie, for many years, but never connected it with my name! And to think that Lisa is a from of Elizabeth too–wow. Diligent Lisa, and those promises of hidden treasure here in these dark places (Impatiens grow best outside in shady areas!) what sweet gifts He continues to speak! I am so thankful that He calls to us in these corner-sitting places, and gives us His song to sing. Thank you for being that singer to me, and bringing the precious word of the Lord so often Dear Friend! Much love and hugs to you from the across the world!
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What a beautiful post, so full of hope! I adore the inspiring poem (and its equine imagery), especially the lines Gayl mentioned. These too spoke to my soul:
“Lifted up to Heavenly places
No more corner sitting
Rivers of water now flow
In places of corner SINGING.”
This is how I see you, Bettie. Not stuck in a corner at all, but lifted up to those places where inner healing awaits. Your soul surrender yields so much beauty and deep compassion for others on the journey. The “rivers of water” are indicative of grace. They flow freely from your words. You are in new “places of corner SINGING”, a spot in heaven reserved for you, where God’s praises are continually on your lips. And where you receive and pour out. Your days are challenging and your pain unbearable at times, yet God gives you the ability to write such joyous posts in the midst of adversity. It truly is a glorious gift of grace. Blessings, love and hugs to you! xoxo PS: I hopped over and left a comment on your old post as well! 🙂
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Dear Joy,
Your words are always such an encouragement and holy blessing. What a beautiful thought that we are singing in that “spot in heaven” reserved for us. God truly has set us in Heavenly places! Oh that I would keep that in my mind when the nights are hard. I am so glad that He has given us His Living Water for these days–not just the days when everything seems to be going well, but here, in these hard times too. He is still giving us to drink from His well right then. I am so thankful for the ways that He allows us to bring such comfort to each other, and for the ways that you have been so open and free to share that comfort with me. You are a true Godly friend, and a gift from Him. Blessings, love, and hugs to you from across the pond Dear Friend! xoxo P.S. Thanks for clicking over to the older post too!
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I love all of this, Bettie. Your poem, your prayer, your reflections, and your insta post. It’s amazing how when the fire of pain is burning in your bones, “His fire was lingering above Burning HIS glory within.” Also, your honesty sharing about your questions to God comforts my heart and reconfirms to me that God is so tender and His love is unconditional. It reminds me how much He wants us to pour out our pain to Him. Truly God is so good. All the time. No matter what we go through, He will be with us. I always see this witness in your posts, and it encourages my heart. Thank you! Love and blessings of ever-flowing rivers of God’s grace to you!
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Dear Trudy,
Oh your words are such a blessing to me tonight. It has been a risk for me to continue to speak up about the pain and the questions that come along with having chronic pain. But God has stirred within my heart to share His glory in those very places. He does want us to “pour out our pain to Him.” I am so very grateful for these many years that God has allowed us to connect with each other! Your comment on that older post I linked to was such a blessing to me then, and it still is today. What a sweet comfort to be able to share together! May you be blessed with an overflow of that river grace this week also my friend! xo
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Thank you, dear Bettie, for helping me see corners with fresh eyes. There are hidden gifts from God wherever He “sends” us. I know He’s not the author of pain; He’s the Author of all the grace we need. Hugs.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
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Dear Wendy,
Oh what precious thoughts, truly He is “the Author of all the grace we need.” And He meets us in every place we find ourselves, already there before we arrive. I am so grateful for His Dear Presence with us! You are an encouragement and blessing Dear Sister! May you be blessed with His deep love this week!
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Your faith, even when ‘corner sitting’ Bettie, still shines. I can see that just through your words, and continuing to call on God no matter the pain. When I think of being in the corner myself, I think of being corrected which I know is not your ‘corner sitting!’ However, it resonates me as a time to stop, pause, not to push forward my own agenda, but to slow my breathing again to His pace. May you continue to see and have beautiful flower images before you that bring rest to your soul!
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Dear Lynn,
Thank you for all of your sweet and encouraging thoughts! I know that corner of “correction” also, and you are so right that He does give us time to pause and not to push forward our own agendas. It’s hard not to do that, though, isn’t it? I am seeing how often I want my own way, even when I think I have laid it all down. I am so glad that He is so patient with me, and sends me just the right word, or photo or image to soften my heart to His truth. Your photos so often bring that beauty to my heart also! Blessings and love to you!
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Enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing God’s faithfulness…to meet us in the corners and to, yes, bring us a new song! His mercies are, indeed, very gentle!
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Thanks for visiting here today, and for your sweet comments, Jennifer! His mercies truly are so gentle as He leads us into those new songs. Blessings to you this week!
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Sometimes we just have to be corner-sitters! 🙂
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Yes, that is so true, Tara! I am thankful that He never leaves us alone, even then! Blessings to you!
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It is a sweet thing to be taken from “corner sitting” to “corner singing,” dear friend. Your life is such a beautiful outpouring of God’s love and grace. So thankful to visit with you here tonight! Sending much love to you!!
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Dear Cheryl,
Oh it is such a joy to have you visit here, dear friend. He truly does bring His song to us, doesn’t He? I pray that I would lift my voice, boasting in my own weaknesses, so that HE can shine His glorious light of Grace over all. Blessings, love and hugs to you!
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Dear Bettie, how you turn my eyes from the corner to the beauty of Christ instead! Thank you, dear friend! This is post is layers upon layers of Christ-centered beauty. Your closing prayer said it all. It was like a song in itself. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
You live out this verse for me. God bless you and keep you, sweet sister!
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Dear Melissa,
Thank you so much for your beautiful encouragement! Would you believe that as you wrote your comment I was preparing my rough draft for my next post, and I had typed in that same verse from Romans 15:13! God is so amazing to confirm His Words to us. He truly does give us HIS song to sing, doesn’t He? Blessings to you sweet sister as you also live out His Words for me, and for so many others also!
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Glory to God! I love when the Holy Spirit moved in force like that! Only God. Blessings to you!
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Praise God! He is so good!! Blessings and hugs Dear Friend!
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