My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken… Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? ~Psalm 62: 1-3 (NASB)
Rainy days beg for lonely remembrances and deep introspection. It’s hard to find the sun when I hide in the shadows. I spend the day inside trying to stay warm and dry. My hands wrap around warm tea that goes down sweet and soothing. And I consider the path I’m on as I write. I know God tucks me in and holds me tight. But sometimes it feels like He has left my side. Or have I left His side? My thoughts drift and it is hard to focus.
I’m leaning on a wall that is ready to collapse, a tottering fence…weak and falling…it is hard to see what lies ahead. My eyes are closed tight, afraid to open. The fracture widens and I don’t know how to prevent the deep divide. God’s purpose threatens to give way and destruction seems imminent. I sit in silence and it speaks more than words voiced. There are things we learn in the hushed, hidden places…when we pause and listen. Do I hear you…Lord? The quiet echoes…but God will answer. We need to be patient and wait. He will make Himself clear, and the veil will be lifted. His light will shine forth and the way will become clear.
Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying, but the never needing to say is what counts. ~Margaret Lee Runbeck
God whispers through the windy, bending trees to stay on the straight and narrow path. Choose His Way, the solitary and hard days. His truth will never fail us! We must sacrifice our plans and our desires, and seek His will. He stoops down and asks, “Will you count me in, and return home to me?” We take a breath and hold out our hands to Him. Wherever He calls us, we will follow. He is our stronghold, our safe place. Grace as full as the ocean supports us. God beckons His children to look above the people who have failed them, and keep their eyes on Him. Forgetting the past, we see beyond our present failures, and focus on the view ahead. We don’t know how or where to take our first step. Power to overcome belongs to God, so we bow our heads to pray…and words fail.
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ~ Romans 8: 26 (NASB)
We pour our hearts out to Him, even when it is just a breath…and He steps close. He has got this mess, and we know we are hiding in a safe place. We are happy to be returning home and rest in Him. He is our rock and we will not be shaken.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
~Romans 8:28 (NASB)
We will not be shaken as we bravely and patiently choose God’s way and wait on Him.
Lily Mae
bravely patiently wait……stay on the straight and narrow….choose His Way….sacrifice my plans…relinquishment …look above those who have failed you…Fix my eyes on Jesus author and perfector, finisher of my faith, “Jesus help me to keep my eyes on you especially when I am under attack for my person”who I am in Christ, and how I choose to live my life”. especially when I am wounded by someone close to me. Thank you for your help
Lily , how can you know , how can your words written in vague yet bold sentences, strike a cord in me of understanding…it is God, only God, and the hard, the messy and the overwhelming struggle that He helps us make sense of to then be able to guide others. I only hope this feeble attempt at words can convey how much this particular writing meant to me, deep in my soul.
Love you , J….and am praying for you this day. Miss you and wish we could sit in your garden and catch up on our lives. We all have to sacrifice our goals and plans and follow His will. It is hard…..our God redeems our messes. It has been a hard week down here as well. When the lonely sets in….keep your eyes on Him. Our God does not fail us!!!!Lily Mae
God stoops to us–His grace
–with beauty may we realize God really does stoop—i love this as a picture–He stoops as a Shepherd who scoops up His lost or bruised lamb in His arms. May we allow Him to scoop us in His arms and not fight the embrace that only He can give.