Productivity in the face of sorrow

John Piper drew from Daniel to encourage us toward biblical productivity in a post on the DGM blog yesterday.   I appreciated this encouragement to press on in God's work despite the sorrow and pain around us, and was surprised at the foundation Piper pointed to for the productivity:  God's great love for us ("you are greatly loved" Dan 9:23).    In my work, faced all the time with horrific pain and sorrow.  I often take solace in God's wisdom to get out of bed, stay focused and productive.  But I hadn't previously meditated on love, per se, as a source for strength and perseverance when news is bad.   In fact, as I examined myself, I discovered that God's great love for me is not a truth that touches me very often.  I feel much more in touch with others of his attributes and other parts of his goodness toward me.   So this was a helpful call to awaken to this love and derive comfort, strength, and good works from it.