O my servants! Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for you. Worlds, holy and spiritually glorious, will be unveiled to your eyes. You are destined by Him, in this world and hereafter, to partake of their benefits, to share in their joys, and to obtain a portion of their sustaining grace. To each and every one of them you will no doubt attain. (Bahá’u’lláh, Advent of Divine Justice, p. 69)
Funny story: In the early days of my recovery, I wrote to the House of Justice for guidance, and they sent me this quote without attribution, so for a very long time, I thought it was written by them, just for me! Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was written by Baha’u’llah for the whole world! My ego was crushed, probably a good thing!
When I first studied this quote in the context of healing from my abusive past, it gave me great comfort knowing that better days were to come. Since then, I’ve had what seems to have been a lifetime of “things contrary to my wishes” happen to such an extent that I’ve stopped hoping and dreaming.
It’s possible I could be alive for another 30 years and I want the rest of my life to be different. I don’t want to spend any more days waiting to die, so I can have a better life. This quote promises that I can have days of blissful joy in this world, so I want to hold onto that hope and look for these days. It’s possible they may have come (and be coming) in ways I didn’t anticipate.
I might never get anything I pray for, but if I approach life with radiant acquiescence, I might find the joy in the tests and struggles and spiritual growth.
Finding solace and confirmation that I won’t always get what I want, I can accept life on life’s terms I am grateful!
What jumped out for you as you read today’s meditation? I’d love it if you would share so we can all expand our knowledge of the Writings!
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I have slowly, painfully begun to learn (will I ever be finished?) that what happens to me by others, does not matter AS MUCH as what my response is. If I become, or stay angry, then I have missed that opportunity to grow. The same if I become spiteful and want revenge (oh, so sweet!!!). But, if I can detach myself from the pain, and see the others as creatures of God who are just as lost and wayward as I am (and I SOOO am!), then I can learn compassion, understanding and forgiveness. Then………..I can receive a new test to learn a new lesson. I pray it all will be over some day, but that’s probably the day I leave. I want to be ready when that day comes. I don’t want to regret what I didn’t learn.
Well said Duane. I’m grateful to be learning this lesson too. I wish it didn’t have to take so many years to learn it!
Thanks for the reminder. I love this quote as it offers hope in this world as well as the next. Sometimes we need to learn how to see with a different lens.
Yes, that’s so true, Lana. I’m so grateful the Writings gives us the lens to look at the world as it really is, instead of how we were taught it is, by our culture.
And the surprise is: That quote was written just for you! 🥰 It’s so easy to imagine how universal Baha’u’llah is, but almost impossible to embrace just how personal His writings are. Yes, He meant you!
I love your sense of humor, Patrice! He meant you too! And me. We’re all one! Ya Baha’u’l-Abha!
Yay for radiant acquiescence! I have that phrase in front of mind all the time. It really helps.
It’s a new one for me, Roya. I’ve graduated from tolerance to acceptance to acquiescence. Much though I long for radiant acquiescence, it’s still a goal to strive for!
This quote & many others I have read & studied & still study Have me saying when was these written because they could have written today. That’s why I think we as Baha’is have to get to work not with just words but with deeds As well have understanding that prayers answered might be at once
So true Anne! Some prayers I’ve been praying for years; others have been answered in ways it takes me years to understand! All part of God’s polish of the dust off the mirror of my soul!