"Not A Day More" is a very emotive poem. My inspiration came from a situation my family and I had been going through for a few years by the time of writing it in 2011.
My beloved Grandmother suffered from Alzheimer 's disease before she was called home to be with her Saviour in 2015. Leading up to this time we had been witnessing her succumb more and more to the symptoms of this condition. Sadly we were learning first-hand how upsetting and painful this process is for everyone involved.
The situation reached a particularly low point in January of 2011 and as a result I found myself on my knees crying out to the Lord on behalf of my Gran, almost out of desperation for her. I was wondering why things had been allowed to become as bad as they were.
Now I know that the Lord didn't owe me any answers as I sat there asking Him "Why? Why? Why?" so I feel that it was thanks to His grace that He gently spoke to my heart on the matter. He reminded me that He is God and that He 's a good God. He then brought it to my mind that He is sovereign and everything He has permitted into our lives is for a reason. With Jesus we can get through anything that comes our way, not because of our own strength but because of His.
I also felt the Lord reminding me that only He can see the full picture and purpose of each situation in life and that He is a God who is worthy to be trusted. This really helped to still my soul before Him and I found myself having the peace of God that transcends all understanding, the peace that only Jesus Christ can give.
Having gone on this emotional journey with the Lord I felt inspired to write "Not A Day More. "
Why when there's anguish? Why when there's turmoil?My beloved Grandmother suffered from Alzheimer 's disease before she was called home to be with her Saviour in 2015. Leading up to this time we had been witnessing her succumb more and more to the symptoms of this condition. Sadly we were learning first-hand how upsetting and painful this process is for everyone involved.
The situation reached a particularly low point in January of 2011 and as a result I found myself on my knees crying out to the Lord on behalf of my Gran, almost out of desperation for her. I was wondering why things had been allowed to become as bad as they were.
Now I know that the Lord didn't owe me any answers as I sat there asking Him "Why? Why? Why?" so I feel that it was thanks to His grace that He gently spoke to my heart on the matter. He reminded me that He is God and that He 's a good God. He then brought it to my mind that He is sovereign and everything He has permitted into our lives is for a reason. With Jesus we can get through anything that comes our way, not because of our own strength but because of His.
I also felt the Lord reminding me that only He can see the full picture and purpose of each situation in life and that He is a God who is worthy to be trusted. This really helped to still my soul before Him and I found myself having the peace of God that transcends all understanding, the peace that only Jesus Christ can give.
Having gone on this emotional journey with the Lord I felt inspired to write "Not A Day More. "
Why when her mind cannot call on Your name?
Why when her days are not clear or remembered?
Why put her soul through such torment and pain?
Why let her linger when eyes are so vacant?
A body so tired is surely a sign
That purpose and meaning have all but departed.
What heartache and sorrow to see such decline.
Why when it seems she has left us already?
Confusion and upset are clouding her mind.
The person we knew is now but a shadow.
A fearful, frail shell has been left behind.
Before dark descended we know that she chose You,
Before all the troubles the illness creates.
We know Your salvation was wholly accepted.
Why when we know that Your Heaven awaits?
Oh how my heart wishes that things could be different,
I wish to my soul that there were no goodbyes.
If I had my way she would stay here forever
But time waits for nothing, time no one defies.
So now we must witness our loved one grow distant.
The curse of this world causes deep down to cry,
"How long must we wait for our Saviour's arrival?"
Why do You linger Lord? Why Jesus? Why?
But I must be still and remember Your goodness,
Find comfort and peace as I pray in Your name.
Recalling the words of Paul the Apostle,
"To live is Christ and to die is gain."
For You are our God and You're filled with compassion.
Your judgments are righteous, Your purposes wise
For each of Your children has days You've appointed.
Each moment has meaning when seen through Your eyes.
For I cannot see the big picture like You do.
I don't know Your reasons or purpose or plan
For sustaining the days when it seems they are futile.
There's comfort in knowing her life's in Your palm.
Our affliction on earth is here for a moment
And works in us glory with an eternal weight.
You renew our hearts every day that we're given.
Your timing is perfect and never too late.
For who knows the secrets of each life like You do
With unresolved issues we try to forget?
Perhaps You are using this time to heal heartache
Or speaking to souls who don't know You yet.
For we mustn't lean on our own understanding
But trust in Your wisdom and Fatherly care.
Perhaps You are teaching us spiritual lessons,
Be it love or compassion or time spent in prayer.
Whatever the reasons, we know You are sovereign.
To this we submit with all reverence and fear.
We long for the day when all sorrow is ended
And our Lord Jesus Christ wipes away every tear.
As we wait for that day may we live with the knowledge
That every new breath is a gift that's from You.
Our days here on Earth are precious and fleeting,
May we use our time wisely in all that we do.
But when will the trials of life be concluded?
When will we finally see Heaven's door?
When our lives have fulfilled every day You've appointed.
When Your work is completed and not a day more.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
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