... and all manner of things shall be well.

"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple."

Psalm 27.4

... and she loved cats!

Of any verse in Scripture, to me this one describes the life of Julian of Norwich. We probably know her name better for the familiar and popular quote,

"... all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well" 

but she could say those words of comfort because of the one thing she asked of the LORD: to know His beauty in the Passion of Christ. From her life of contemplation on His sacrifice for us, she discovered the depth of God's love for us and for all his creation. She said,

"He that made all things for love, by the same love keeps them, and shall keep them without end."

God's love for us keeps us ... forever. We were made for His love and in that love He keeps us, protects us, saves us. And, not only us ... but all of creation. Julian knew this love. It was her daily contemplation, her daily work of worship. She gazed upon Him and inquired of Him in His temple. And, from this daily work of worship she gleaned this:

"Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two come a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, who is love."

This may sound as though Julian lived above the difficulties of life, that she was not aware of struggle and hardship. Not at all. It was an illness that almost took her life that set her on the journey of contemplating the love of the Lord Jesus. And, it was in His love that she found consolation. She said this of struggles of life:

"If there is anywhere on earth a lover of God who is always kept safe, I know nothing of it, for it was not shown to me. But this was shown: that in falling and rising again we are always kept in that same precious love."

In falling and rising we are kept in God's love. That brings us to this verse:

"Wait for the LORD;

be strong and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!"

Psalm 27.14

Wait for the LORD. Gaze upon His beauty. Ask Him to show you his love and grace ... that is for you! Be strong in that Love. Take courage in It. Wait for Him. AMEN.