5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Trust in him. Submit to him. Does God ask for our submission to put us in our place? To remind us that he is boss and we are beneath him? He could, because certainly he is above us in every way.
But no. He implores us to submit, acknowledge, or turn to him because he can optimally help us if we do. It’s about the free will that he gave us … We can go our own way if we choose to, but if we willingly take every circumstance, every decision, every aspect of our daily lives to him, he will guide us on the path that is straight. The path that is righteous. The…
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16. “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.” Matthew 7:6. Be wise about who you tell, and when.
When God births a promise, he does it in a stable.
Why?
The stable is simple, humble, and void of the embellishments which would detract from the miracle.
In the stable, the newborn promise is kept from the public eye. During the infant miracle’s most vulnerable stage, it is shielded from scrutiny, jealously, criticism, theft, and attack. Birthed in seclusion, it is given the best chance to survive and grow to maturity.
Once the miracle has strengthened, and has acquired agility in its movements, it will be released to spend time in the outdoors. That experience too, will be controlled for safety’s sake. Fences keep out predators and prevent the young promise from roaming naively into the path of danger.
Development takes time, and with it, the manifested promise will be permitted more and more freedom. Until then, be thankful for the fences. And be grateful for the chosen birthplace of the simple…
You can be blameless and still have trouble on the road of life. Sometimes it is through a vast, fearsome valley that you must travel.
I can attest that it is dark, overwhelming, and intimidating in the valley. Promises and hope for your future that were visible before, become suddenly irretrievable, seemingly lost altogether.
The valley itself is powerful: a pit, a trap, a lure to death. It doesn’t ask, it imposes. It insists on its way, it doesn’t offer compromise. It is unceasing in its efforts to convince you that your destiny is there in its grip, this is where your road ends.
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I can also attest that you must be more stubborn than it. Refuse its impositions, arguments, and “proof”, however strong and impressive they may be. Your journey will not end in the valley of deprivation. You aren’t staying, only passing through because you have to.
There is life beyond the valley, a life not possible had you not passed through it. Because of your persistent, resolute steps, and determination to yet see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, you are enabled to rejoin your personal road, a road that is better than before.
A road that is rarer, purer, clearer … higher.
Aim yourself toward goodness, and muster determination to put all that is evil in your rearview mirror. Go ahead. Go ahead. And be confident that you will yet see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
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When there is no other way to it, but through it, you’ve just got to do it.
Go Ahead”, by Ron Kenoly
If you catch hell
Don’t hold it
If you’re going through hell
Don’t stop
Remember no weapon
Formed against you
Shall prosper
And every tongue
That rises against you
You shall condemn
Now the Bible says this
You need to learn this
For greater is He that is in you
Than he that is in the world
Now this is what you do when
You’re going through hell
You go ahead
‘Cause you have authority
Over the enemy
You have authority
As a believer
You have authority
Over the enemy
You have authority
In the Name of Jesus
Listen folks go ahead
Go ahead
I’m goin’ through
If you catch hell
Don’t hold it
If you’re going through hell
Don’t stop
Depending on circumstances, different lyrics from this hymn assume prominence.
When I sense myself drifting, the following verse becomes my prayer:
Let that grace now like a fetter bind my wandering heart to thee: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it …
When I find myself in times of trouble, a different line serves as a distress call:
He to rescue me from danger …
For the sixth straight week, I have distilled this song and “The Lord’s Prayer” to short, simple prayers:
Rescue us from danger. Deliver us from evil.
This is a time when less is more, because a loved one had one foot, no two … no ALL of him in the grave. Before his fate could be finalized there, he was rescued — ever-so-delicately, ever-so-protectively, ever-so-tenderly — by the hands of our Father. He is held close even now, at God’s breast, cradled with those hands.
I am grateful. I am in awe. And yet, I am dissatisfied …
While I see him in God’s embrace, I haven’t witnessed him set down again on ground far from that awful, rebuffed grave. The destination I believe for him is not here, so near the grave, but far from it — fully alive, healthy, safe, and journeying Earth with no end in sight; he’s too young for his to be ordained by God anytime soon.
I know that credible, responsible medical statistics say his odds are slim, and the path ahead includes any number of pits just like the one he narrowly escaped. It is our challenge to spot and avoid the unending pits, resist their convincing lure; either detour or leap over each; and sustain this forward “Effort For Life” without knowing when and where the next open grave will appear.
So, again today, I pray this particular line in “Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing”, because it is impossible for us to do this alone. The stakes are severe, the consequences of this ultra-marathon are life-and-death. We need our God, the creator of the universe, the giver of all good things, the protector of all … no, we REQUIRE …
He to rescue us from danger.
Update: Two years later, I am no longer dissatisfied. He initially progressed slowly but surely and distanced himself from the awful, rebuffed grave. Since then he is traveling fast and far from it — fully alive, healthy, safe, and journeying Earth with no end in sight. He has a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Artist: Fernando Ortega singing “Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing”, from his album, “Beginnings”.
For years I have been drawn to Johnny Cash’s cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”. Maybe it is his rich, deep voice. Maybe it is the sincerity in which he sings. I don’t hear Cash, I hear God speaking the lyrics to me. Listen. Hear his heart. Hear his promise. Believe it – He will do it.
“Bridge Over Troubled Water”
When you’re weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on, silvergirl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
If you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Bridge Over Troubled Water was written by Simon & Garfunkel
On a sunny afternoon in August, I watched some talented ceramic artists demonstrate their craft.
One potter told me he often gets requests to make multiple identical items for customers, such as ten bowls or eight plates. Because pottery is his livelihood he happily obliges, but he admittedly finds that kind of work tedious. It’s merely forcing clay into compliance.
His preference is to approach the clay with an entirely different mindset. He described it as “allowing the clay to determine its final shape.” Those hours of work for him are enjoyable and fulfilling, during which a standard ball of clay transforms into a unique work of art.
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:6
“Life is difficult for those who have the daring to first set out on an unknown road. The avant-garde always has a bad time of it.” – Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, 1889
Those who trust enough to travel unknown roads sacrifice much. The road never-before-traveled is often isolating, desolate, and ensconced in darkness. Commitment to the road requires every ounce of available courage, perseverance, grit, restraint, fortitude, and faithfulness.
On the seemingly endless, trial-filled journey, depletion is inevitable. There comes a day when you find yourself flat on your face in the dirt, aware of the ruins of your life because of the road.
One more step is impossible. It’s then that you look up and see … light? aid? rest? No, a mountain where the path had been level.
And always, always there comes from nowhere a reason to peel yourself off the hard, cold ground and begrudgingly, resentfully, tearfully resolve to climb that damned mountain.
And so it goes on the unknown road until, finally, one day a flash of light reaches through the dense canopy. A few more steps puts the valley of darkness behind, and there before you … a destination not possible had you chosen the easy road.
.
Sun. Hope. A river of life. An endless sky. A spacious horizon. Unobstructed footing.
.
It is peacetime. Harvest time. Stake your claim on this, your promised land. Your capacity to cherish it is uncanny. Because of the terrible journey behind, you are well-equipped to manage your abundance. With gratitude. Patience. Tenderness. Generosity. Forthrightness. And wisdom.
.
All because you dared to first set out on an unknown road.
37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin…
I haven’t had much time to write recently. I may not have time for awhile. Most of the hours of my last two weeks have been spent in a teaching hospital, absorbing a barrage of information, flowing with the tides of emotion and complex medical crises I have had no control over.
Someone I love with all my heart is fighting for his life.
I remain ever-ready, often sleepless, doing all that has to be done.
It has not been all unwanted work. We are fortunate that time has been extended by the heroic efforts of an army of medical practitioners and support services. It has allowed me to hold the hand of this person I love. Feeling the warmth of his skin. Watching the beat of his heart. Valuing him. Treasuring him. Helping him with whatever he needs or wants.
Because we were told numerous times already his odds of survival are slim, almost none.
And yet …
There is faith. As long as his heart beats, I will not let go of faith.
It may be that this belief is the difference between life and death, and the weight of that belief lies on my shoulders. That is a heavy burden to bear. But what if his life passes far too soon, and I were to learn later it didn’t have to happen, that it was because everyone remained passive while death pulled him into its irreversible power … What then? How could I live with that knowledge after it was too late?
So, despite fear of failure, I choose to take on the burden of making life happen. I don’t know that it will be successful, I don’t care if others think it is delusional …
I speak (silently) life into this person I love dearly. I treat him day-to-day as if he will live, not die. Because I believe it.
I believe it because I have chosen to believe it.
The day I finally managed this mindset, the following post passed my Facebook news feed, written by Dr. Eugene May:
4 August 2016
There was a day when the prophet Ezekiel was taken into the midst of a very desolate place, a valley of DRY BONES. The Lord asked, “Son of man, can these bones LIVE?” He could only answer, “O Lord God, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3). To Ezekiel, the situation that he faced was IMPOSSIBLE for man. Yet he did acknowledge that only God knew the answer.
There are times in our experiences when we wonder while looking into the face of the IMPOSSIBLE if God is able do anything about our circumstances. I think this is normal for folks like us. When challenged with the IMPOSSIBLE, we find it easy to throw up our hands and say, “CAN GOD DO IT?”
The Lord spoke to Ezekiel and gave him this instruction, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O DRY BONES, hear the word of the LORD!’” (Ezekiel 37:34). God saw the potential in the bones and what could be done through one person who would dare to speak life into the situation. We know the end of the story. The DRY BONES were resurrected and became a great army.
Child of God, you are in a unique position. God has chosen you to speak to the DRY BONES around you and say, “LIVE!” Oh, not literal DRY BONES, but God is asking you to speak into the situations in your life that seem to be IMPOSSIBLE. You have the power of the Holy Spirit in you and you can say, “LIVE.”
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
(Added May 2018): For anyone wondering how this story evolved:
When you’re depleted, even slight inclines feel steep.
Since people around you aren’t quitting, you don’t either.
Perseverance isn’t supposed to be pretty.
Or easy.
If you dig down deep you discover –
You have more in you than you think.
Hebrews 12: 1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Because we were told numerous times already his odds of survival are slim, almost none.
Cindi Gale 