Be Purged

Pain is a two-edged sword, 
My child,
It cuts, it wounds and we bleed.

We would like to escape
That cruel wound if we could
And seek shelter from that
Dark, painful deed.

But God, in His grace 
Uses pain as a tool,
To cleanse, to purge, purify.

He gives beauty for ashes
And joy in the place, 
Of the wound that could
Cause us to die.

For satan would seek
To target our pain
And poison our souls
Deep within.

He would render us useless
For all Kingdom good, 
Flood our hearts
With the darkness of sin.

So yield your pain, dear child,
To your God, to your King,
So that satan can gain 
No foothold.

Let God’s love flood your soul
For who wielded the sword
Who wounded,
Whose ways were so cold.

Be purged, purified,
Forgiving and kind.
Be tried, my child,
And come forth as gold.  

Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020

This poem was written for one of my children, who was deeply hurt by another.  God is faithful.  My child is whole.