Our walk of faith or as Pastor likes to call it, our Journey Walk, involves mountains and valleys with many miles of flat fields in between that may seem unending. On and on we trudge and sometimes it seems as though we are no closer to the hills than we were the day before. The view seems the same, the walk no different. At times we wonder if God is doing anything, leading us anywhere, at all. But trust intervenes, and we find ourselves dancing in a meadow of colorful flowers that wave and bend in the breeze. Perhaps it is our hearts that bend to the will of God. 

 

In these times, we shout for joy at the top of the mountain as we gaze through clouds at an incredible vista of eternity. We see for miles and miles into a future before our Father's throne. It is amazing grace and we fall on our faces before Him.

 

But then comes the valley of the shadow of death where we cannot see our hand in front of our faces. In shock and disbelief, we grope in circles of pain, looking for the switch, a flashlight, candle, even a match. Then Jesus whispers, "Do not light your own fire, but trust Me to be the Light that guides you". Some of these valleys are losses so great they carve ragged holes in our hearts that bleed for what seems a lifetime. Chronic bleeding either drains our souls to a dry, anemic faith, with no strength and no breath or it draws us to seek the Healer more and more. Jesus said, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."

 

And as the Lord transfuses our very being with the blood that restores and strengthens, a light shines in front of us, just enough to take the next step. And so the journey continues; one step, one turn, one dance. We know Him more intimately and love Him more deeply. And it is He who is glorified.

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Beloved, do not allow pain and grief to swallow you whole. Take it to the cross where Jesus bled and died that you might live. Throw yourself into arms strong enough to catch and hold you close. Give Him your tears to store in His bottle. Receive the comfort of the Comforter. The scars of your heart may last a lifetime but over time they soften. And in His perfect timing, God shall turn your mourning into dancing. For "to live is Christ and to die is gain." Whether we breathe in the hushed and quiet tones of our hearts or sing aloud at the top of our lungs, in Christ our song is, "Whate'er my God ordains is right!" 

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