I want to start by sharing some selected thoughts today. Take them in… as snapshots of life. Don’t over-think any of it. Don’t “think ahead” of any of it.
Just let the images float through your mind. Insert yourself into the picture.
peace… with my Lord so near
my path grows brighter every day
I am safe. I am secure. From anything that would frighten or disturb me.
Fellowship, joy, blessedness and peace… just by relying on him
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Sign me up for THAT ride, friend!
Here are a few more I want to throw your way…
So take a deep breath. Let whatever emotional baggage you’ve collected today (or this week) drop to your side.
Listen… really listen to the picture that the words paint.
(Listen to the picture? Are you serious? Yeah. Totally serious. Go for it.)
Take life, take rest, take joy and peace… only from Jesus
trusting him… stopping all the “self” and the sin
taking him at his word… truly resting on each promise
knowing that “because HE said so!” can end every fear
I have proved Him trustworthy over and over and over again
Oh, for the grace to be able to trust him even more than I already do!
I imagine many of you picked up that I’m paraphrasing a couple of hymns. First “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and then “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.”
I wrote earlier this week about the hard situation my wife and I are in. I wrote about how it would be much easier to compose our “faith” story past tense and share it then. To be able to frame it all up neatly and show how God had it all in hand the whole time. As tempting as that may be, I decided to do it differently.
I resolved to show the hard parts of faith. Like when the lights go out and you’re alone with yourself in your room. What do you believe then? Is God really even listening? Is this just religious nonsense that helps us feel better about it all? Is it really up to us, in the end?
It’s the real faith that we need to talk about more. The one that has absolute answers (not “Sunday School” answers) for those questions. And the answers get firmer and firmer and more resolute with time.
So, to continue from my previous post, I went to bed after publishing that blog post. And then woke up the next morning with a firm resolve. My wife Anna and I again chose Jesus. We chose to lean on God’s everlasting arms. And yes, to “trust in Jesus,” as well. Nothing new, really.
I wrote about it only after Anna and I were living in that “unemployed-and-absolutely-nothing-to-show-for-all-the-work-and-prayer-behind-the-scenes” reality for several months.
I shared it all and then stated that our faith tells us that his rescue is close.
And now we both have jobs.
It’s enough to pay our bills, meet our needs, and eventually pay our way to where Jesus is calling us. In my previous post, I listed a handful of promises from Scripture that my wife and I are leaning on.
I point at them. I point at our newly altered situation. And I point at our future. And I say, “Let me show you what our God is doing!”
Anna and I drove back home after a dinner explaining the ins and outs of our new jobs. And we were just blown away at how perfectly the gigantic, enormously heavy needs of our new employers and our own abilities line up. How do those connections where people can rescue each other get made so well?
They get made in a world where Jesus is Lord. It’s a world where he’s WAY more than a feel-good mascot for our religious activities. It’s a world where he is exactly who he says he is.
And he does everything he says he’ll do.
If we would only believe… and have faith in him.
Especially when it’s hard.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
