“Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind! Blow on my garden and spread its fragrance all around.” (Song of Solomon 4:16, NLT)
“Sometimes God causes severe winds of trial to blow upon His children to develop their gifts. Just as a torch burns more brightly when waved back and forth, and just as a juniper plant smells sweetest when thrown into the flames, so the richest qualities of a Christian often arise under the strong winds of suffering and adversity. Bruised hearts often emit the fragrance that God loves to smell.”
(from Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman, August 6, page 301)
Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash
Today I am joining … Scripture & a Snapshot and Sunday Scripture Blessings .
Bruised hearts perhaps smell like teachable hearts to God. When we are bruised we are vulnerable and more importantly, we are healing. Perfect times for God to come in give us lessons.
This is just beautiful – “Bruised hearts perhaps smell like teachable hearts to God.” Grateful you stopped and shared!
When I am crashing around in my tomato patch, the smell of those plants is all over me and all around me. May it also be so with the aroma of Christ!
Michele, yes (!!), it is true. All one needs to do is gently touch a tomato stem and you smell just like it. Amen and Amen!
This scripture goes straight to my heart for so many reasons – the garden, the winds – and then you take it somewhere just as beautiful – the resurrection and redemption in them – how God grows us, refines us! This lifts my heart!
Maryleigh, I am so grateful that God grows us not only for ourselves, but to bless others and to bring Him glory. His purposes are multifaceted which is amazing to me.
That’s a thought-provoking way to put it. I hope my life will always emit the fragrance of Christ.
Barbara, your writing emits the fragrance of Christ and I am blessed each time I read your words.
What an interesting perspective – many fragrant herbs don’t have any scent until you crush the leaves. What if our hearts are the same?
Strong winds of suffering and adversity….even the mildest winds are a learning curve at times because we are vulnerable, and seem to listen more once over the initial shock of the hurts and pain. The messages seem to be more clear like the air has cleared for hearing truths.