How Wonderful to Know!

May 2

Written By Carol McLeod

This past week, I was experiencing a malaise of the soul.

I wasn’t depressed … but I just felt cast down.

I could relate to the Psalmist who once asked:

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” – Psalm 42:5a

It’s a Biblical - yet personal - question that deserves an answer, isn’t it?

Why was I downcast? Why in the world was I disturbed?

I wasn’t discouraged … but I was on the verge of being discontent.

Does anybody know what I am talking about?

Can you relate?

Now … before anyone starts to worry about me … I wasn’t depressed. I wasn’t angry … I wasn’t grieving.

I just felt like being alone … like having myself a good cry … like eating a whole box of chocolates.

It wasn’t just one thing … but it was a thousand little things that had ganged up on me.

I didn’t exactly feel overwhelmed … but I wasn’t at the top of my game, either.

When I was wading through the slog of despondency … this phrase popped into my mind …”How wonderful to know!”

At first … I pondered where those four words could have possibly originated … but then I realized that I had a Holy Spirit whose job description was especially formatted to encourage me.

And I wondered, “Could the Holy Spirit be trying to lift me out of my complacency? Was the Holy Spirit trying to remind me of what a wonderful life I was actually living?!”

I heard it again, “How wonderful to know!”

This time, I quickly realized that the quartet of words wasn’t a complete sentence – but that it was lacking something substantive.

And then, as I waited for the Holy Spirit to speak again … I heard nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

The Holy Spirit had obviously gone quiet on me.

Why would the Holy Spirit only speak in half a phrase? In a fragment? In a morsel of meaning?

And then … I had an “A-Ha!” moment. It suddenly became clear to me that the Holy Spirit wanted me to fill in the blank!

I knew that I could do that … I love words and the power of words! I love playing tennis with the Holy Spirit!

And so … I thought … “Holy Spirit! You’re on! Let’s do this!”

And the phrases came pouring out of my soul like the waters over Niagara –

How wonderful to know that God is still on the throne of my life!

How wonderful to know that I am never alone!

How wonderful to know that joy is available to me every hour of every day!

How wonderful to know that I am perpetually and unconditionally loved!

How wonderful to know that the Creator of the universe is intimately acquainted with all of my ways!

How wonderful to know that I can trust Him on the easy days and on the hard days!

How wonderful to know that the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me!

How wonderful to know that He is well able to work all things together for good ... in fact ... it is what He does best!

How wonderful to know that this is not all there is to life.

How wonderful to know that the same God who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it!

And just like that … it was gone! The malaise and despondency had flown away.

The discontent had been drowned out by the worship of my heart.

How wonderful to know that it works! Worshipping the Lord changes everything for me!

Choosing to worship rather than choosing to whine changes my perspective.

Focusing on Who He is … and not on what I lack … heals what is broken in me.

How wonderful to know!

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 42:5

Thanks for listening to my heart this week. As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me. And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!

Carol McLeod

Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN. A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers. Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain. She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY. Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN. A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers. Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain. She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY. Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!

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