Have you seen the One my heart loves?

Thomas Brooks


"All night long on my bed I looked for the One my
heart loves; I looked for Him but did not find Him." 
Song of Songs 3:1 

"Have you seen the One my heart loves?" 
Song of Songs 3:3 

"I opened for my lover, but my lover had left; He 
was gone! My heart sank at His departure. I looked
for Him but did not find Him. I called Him but He
did not answer." Song of Songs 5:6 

Let your hearts lie humble and low under the loss 
of God's gracious presence.

The loss of God's gracious presence is the greatest loss. 

The loss of God's gracious presence is a loss-embittering 
loss; it is a loss that will greatly embitter all your worldly 
losses. "I have lost my health, I have lost a precious child, 
I have lost a gracious spouse, who was the delight of my 
eyes and the joy of my heart; I have lost a costly estate, 
I have lost an intimate friend, I have lost a thriving trade. 
Oh, but that which embitters all my losses, and puts a sting 
into them, is this—that I have lost the gracious presence 
of God that once I enjoyed!"

The loss of God's gracious presence is a loss that all 
outward comforts can never make up. When the sun 
is set, nothing can make it day with us. 

The loss of God's gracious presence is a soul loss; and 
no losses can be compared to soul losses. As there are 
no mercies compared to soul mercies, so there are no 
losses to soul losses. 

The loss of God's gracious presence is a loss which will cost 
a man dearly, before it will be made up again. Oh the sighs, 
the groans, the strong cries, the earnest prayers, the bottles 
of tears that the recovery of the divine presence will cost!


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