Safe Arms
If you’re scared, I can relate. If you’re worried, me too. And if safe isn’t how you feel, well I get it, but it isn’t true.
There are mornings I wake up hopeful and I can sigh with ‘it was a good day’ by nightfall. But there are mornings I wake up hopeful and tears come unbidden throughout the minutes and hours ahead. God reminds us: ‘be strong and courageous’ – not as an admonishment for being fearful, but because He knows our fears and wants us to remember He’s right here, we are not alone.
I don’t know what you’re dealing with. There are so many hard things this world engulfs us in. And at different times in our lives, one may not seem overwhelming while at another time it came seem like it’s the end of the world. So, just for the next few minutes, let your soul rest here, where there is someone who feels like you do.
My husband, of forty-two years, has a rare form of leukemia – no cure. Just when…we were going to retire and travel…we were going to enjoy our grandchildren…we were going take long walks and eat out a lot. His diagnosis put me in tailspin that led to a bout of depression and physical pain – and just when I was coming out of all that, His diagnosis got worse.
What about you? What were your ‘just whens’ – before all your hard stuff? Did you lose sight of Jesus? Do you feel alone, because no one understands? They can’t, they’re not walking your journey. That doesn’t help, because we need to know someone gets this, feels this.
Someone does. Psalm 27:5a NIV “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling;” ‘Safe’ is tucked into many places in His words to us. “I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:1b NIV) “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.” (Psalm 4:8 NLT)
This is why it’s so very important to have Jesus as Lord and Savior. Because there is no navigating the long nights – the empty bank accounts – the divorce – the hospital stays without Him. We have confidence, based on Jesus’ promises, that this life isn’t all there is. Know that there is someone walking with us. That His promise of a tearless, painless, joyful eternity is true and is ours.
Yes, I’ll still lose my way some days, tears will make me doubt. But how I feel, how you feel, isn’t truth. Truth is our Rescuer has us in His arms and this hard thing can’t touch our forever. Safe, we’re safe, even when we don’t ‘feel’ that way. Love this song…
Unexpected slowing
Usually, when we least expect it, something happens that slows the path we’re on. Often unwelcome. For me this week it’s been a mild illness – so mild it’s hard to name it, but enough to break up my rhythm and hinder my plans. So, while I’m grateful it’s nothing major, I’m a bit put out to have to endure until it runs its course.
When forced to slow down it’s disconcerting. Just when I thought I knew the current way of life, a little blip is changing things. I think it goes back to my age-old struggle: control.
I want to have a calendar with the days lined up. A clear path. That isn’t the way of things for most of us, try as we may. Wherever you are right now, in the small inconvenience or the big heart wrenching, you’re not alone. Fellow sojourners can relate, and the God who held your hand before this is still holding it now – even if you are pulling pretty hard to go the other direction.
In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, I read this verse: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (31:8 NIV)
Moses was speaking to the people for the last time, just before they were to finally end their desert wandering. They were about to face many enemies, fight many battles, but victory would be theirs. Frankly after so much wandering I think I might have been a bit put out that things weren’t going to be easy.
But that’s always been the way of it on sin-filled earth. And when Moses said don’t be afraid or discouraged, he knew they would be. But he wanted to remind them of all the ways God had already shown up and always will.
Fast forward from the Old Testament to where Jesus so clearly spoke the same message: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
Hmm, just like God has been declaring since creation. There will be many struggles and at times rest. But through it all He reminds His people that He is with them and will see them through. The Bible has so many nuggets for us to hold on to.
He uses the times when we must to slow down to give us opportunities to grab hold of His truths. To take heart and be encouraged. Had I not been unhappily sitting in a chair reading this section of the Old Testament when I would have rather been out taking a long walk, I would have probably just read through it and not seen the words put there for me. He’s does the same for you – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV)
He will see you and me through just like He did the desert wanderers. Sometimes on earth it may not seem that way, but this earthly life isn’t all there is. He has set eternity in our hearts; when we slow down, we see the road to it.
You alone
On repeat through my mind this week has been the chorus to a sweet song rephrasing Psalm 23. Ever read any books from an actual shepherd’s perspective on Psalm 23? It makes so clear why this may be the most beloved Psalm of them all. The care it takes to keep sheep safe, fed, watered, rested, healthy – it’s a lot of work.
We’re a lot of work. Our Shepherd is constantly on duty. Keeping us safe when evil surrounds us. Keeping us nourished even when there isn’t much in the cupboard. Keeping us watered, soul watered, so we don’t dry up and give up. Keeping us rested – even though there may be many sleepless nights. And keeping us healthy in the midst of whatever health battle we may face. Sound like it isn’t so? Like those are opposites?
This life will have many things we wouldn’t choose, even when we are Christ followers. The difference for God’s children: what is versus what could have been…
Were He not protecting us, evil would prevail in us – through our own doing as well as evil influence. Sometimes nourishment isn’t food, sometimes it’s His strength even in the famine. Desert places abound when we live day to day, yet in His goodness He will lead us by the still water of His Word to quench our soul thirst.
Rest…that’s a big one for me. I haven’t slept well in some time. I tend to get frustrated about that, let alone worrying that it might affect my health. Yet each day I have energy for the tasks at hand and trust He knows what I need in the wee hours. Healthy – hard one right? Especially when we or a loved one has something that isn’t going to get better. Again, the hand of the Father provides breath for each day and uses pain, or sickness, or physical decline in ways we don’t see.
Back to the chorus of the song, because they are key to believing all of the above:
And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.
In the face of fear, the silence of 2am, the worry of circumstances it truly does come down to that five letter word: trust. Not in self, a spouse, a job, a bank account, government. Only in God. His mercy is endless – both for our weakness of sin and for all the things we face. And daily He leads on a path that sometimes has forks, sometimes has fallen trees, sometimes is hot and arid or cold and muddy – but He doesn’t leave us. A constant companion for the journey leading us home. Home in eternity is all the things we can dream it could be and so much more.
Price you pay
Interesting but true: to a person, I can say without doubt what we really want most out of life is to be loved. Just-as-we-are. And the Bible reminds us, “God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1John 4:16b BSB)
Since that is true, then what we really want – and really need – is God’s love. Want to know how to love someone well? Read how Jesus loved. Want to know how to love even your enemies? Read what Jesus said on the matter. Want to be loved? Abide in God. When it feels like no one loves you, SOMEONE does. No matter what.
There is, however, a bit of a catch with human love. Sometimes it’s conditional – on our part and theirs. Who of us hasn’t loved someone and then they make us mad, or betray us, or hurt us in some way? Then we kind of pull back on our love. And human love can be heart soaring as well as heartbreaking. From smashed fists of flowers for mom, to “I do” for a lover, to “It’s a boy/girl” – these loves make our hearts full and at times can make them ache.
A sermon I heard recently by Alistair Begg touched on the depths of love. How it reaches our very souls. He made a statement that stopped me in my tracks: “Grief is the price you pay for love.”
Any of us who have lived long enough know that to be true. Love is risky. All kinds of grief can accompany it. You can name the ones you’ve experienced. But the hardest one is death – the final parting of love. Leaving a longing, a hole that cannot be filled.
As risky as love is, we still long for it. The highs and lows are part of life. A life free from heartache is a life free from love. And in the end, that’s not much of a life.
When Jesus died those who loved Him thought it was the end. A huge hole was left, or so they thought. But just a few days later, He filled in that hole by telling them “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b NLT)
So, when we decide to let Jesus be the main love of our life, then all the other loves and their heartaches are part of the beauty of earth life. He is our promise that when this life ends, we get to spend eternity in the presence of Love itself – and with all our believing loved ones who went on before us. Only then there is no longer any risk, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT)
Right Here
I wish you could have seen it. Easter Sunday as our family attended a sunrise service, the pastor started explaining Romans 10:9 (ESV) “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” As he expounded on what it means to confess and believe, I looked over at my six-year-old grandson, sitting cross-legged in his daddy’s lap.
It took my breath away and tears sprang instantly. He had closed his eyes and made his hands into prayer hands and was listening intently. I grabbed my daughter’s hands as we rejoiced in our hearts to see how much he already loves Jesus. Not the least bit distracted or concerned with those around him.
Grown-up life is tough. We are distracted by the day-to-day. We are absorbed in accomplishing, or pleasing, or surviving. We feel distant from God forgetting this truth: “God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17: 27 NIV)
Sometimes there are wonderful nuggets of truth in novels written by a Christian author. In Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin the main character tells a young woman who has endured severe challenges in her short life: “We all have moments of doubt. But our faith allows us to bring our doubts to God and ask all those hard questions. Why? Where were You? How could You let this happen? God would much rather have an honest wrestling match with us than have us keep our distance and pretend we don’t have any doubts at all.”
Moments later the main character gets some devastating news and says to herself: “Now my faith has flown on wings of fear…”. Can you relate?
“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28 (NIV) Paul is speaking to a group in Athens who pride themselves on gathering knowledge. He tells them not only is God near to each of us, but that we can’t take our next breath without Him.
Don’t overlook the deep truths in these two verses, they are the essence of God’s relationship to us. He longs for us to turn to Him, He’s right here with us, He makes it possible that we live and move and be who we were created to be.
I want to try ‘sitting in my Father’s lap’, eyes closed, prayer hands folded, oblivious to all that’s on today’s schedule, and simply remember He’s not far, He’s right here with me.
First Light
Did you know there is a time of day called first light and last light? They’re approximately twenty minutes before sunrise and after sunset. I look forward each new day to first light – it seems calm, quiet, slow. (I know, I know there are many up and commuting by then.) But for me it beckons ‘come out, look up, breathe deep’.
In a matter of days, we celebrate the greatest miracle and gift ever – the resurrection of Jesus Christ, known to most as Easter. Many will barely reference Jesus on this monumental occasion. The true Joy will get lost in egg hunts and family dinners for many.
My mind drifts to thoughts of the first Sunday after Messiah died. It was early, perhaps first light, three women hurried to the tomb of Jesus – carrying spices to anoint His body. They were wondering how they were going to roll away the large stone. As they arrived, they noticed it was already moved aside.
What must it have been like finding their way in the pre-dawn minutes, distraught over the events of His death, wanting to honor their Lord one last time? This was no celebration, no expectation of goodies in eggs or fun events for the family. This was a heart wrenching procession.
Much like it would be for us when we awaken the day after a loved one has passed away. We would make our way in numbness, swollen eyes, and longing for it to be a bad dream.
Just when it seemed all was lost – they arrive at a tomb where Jesus is no longer laying. An angelic messenger greets them: “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” (Mattew 28:6a NIV) It had been too hard to grasp – to comprehend that Jesus would die and would then rise on the third day. All that’s in their thoughts right now is the horrible suffering of Christ on the cross, the agony and weeping as they watched.
The angel told them to hurry back and tell His disciples the great news. After the women told them, Peter and John took off running. When they discovered He truly was gone, they returned even more distraught. But Mary Magdalene lingered and asked the gardener if he knew where Jesus’ body could be? And then…He spoke her name, this was no gardener, it was true, He was alive!
First light took on a whole new meaning at the empty tomb. First Light was the Light of the world. From that day until now all people have the opportunity to enter an everlasting light where no dark death will ever reside and where each new day adds up to an uncountable number “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) Each day first light is a reminder He is Risen!
No matter what?
Sunday morning the pastor had chosen a passage that seemed like an unlikely way to illustrate a point. As he progressed, he showed us how all of God’s Word is relevant at all times and is food for our souls. The topic was based on a question his young son had asked him: Will God really love us forever? (No matter what?)
The pastor’s third point hit home. He was speaking of three misconceptions we have of God. The third one being: God’s love means He will never discipline us or allow pain into our lives. This is a misconception that I was lost in for about a year. I was in a great deal of physical pain, leading to emotional pain, and I was spiraling down.
In fact, I said on several occasions “I would never allow my daughter to suffer like this; and I’m His daughter.” And then I let in the lie that satan loves to hang over our heads: it must be my fault, I’m not good enough, not worth loving.
What’s strange about that period of time was that I knew my thinking was wrong. I knew the Bible verses that indeed say God disciplines us, we will suffer in this world, etc. Somehow, I believed that none of that pertained to me. And then when it did, I could not fathom the why.
Pain has a way of distorting our emotions, our thoughts, our beliefs, our outlook – and it often interrupts when we least expect it.
The pastor referred to a quote he had read: “Sometimes the most loving thing you can do as a parent is disappoint your child.” If we saved our children from every bad, wrong, hard thing in the world and made sure they never knew disappointment, they would not grow to be men and women. They would linger in immature selfishness. What a rude awakening the world would be.
Since mid-2022 I have grown in ways I didn’t know I needed to grow. These changes would not have happened in any other way. Again, it is proven true, the Lord works all things for the good of those who love Him.
On the other side of struggles and trials we see more clearly. The Holy Spirit has worked change in me. I have eyes that see differently, a more compassionate heart, and a deeper longing for the truths of the Bible. On hard days I still stumble around a bit, wanting the perfection of eternity without experiencing the results of this fallen world.
Don’t let the lies lead you to believe God won’t love you forever. He always has, always will love you. Enough that He will lead you through the valleys and the heights. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:38 NLT)
Rest
The river near where we live is the color of iced tea – not because of pollution, because of tannins and a high iron content. As I looked out to the horizon, the water looked bluest blue. But when I looked to where it was inches deep, there was the tea color.
As I walked on, I noticed people are a lot like the appearance of the river. A woman in her walking dress with a husband equally well-clad. First glance says wealthy. A terribly overweight young man on a bench, dismissive thoughts. A four-year-old with her purse on her shoulder and sunglasses skipping along until she rounds the corner and eyes two strangers and scurries back to dad.
All these people are like the river in that when I just look at the surface, I cannot understand the real person. Just under the surface is a life that’s had ups and downs, struggles and rejections, innocence and joy.
What do others see when they look at you, at me? What would we tell them if they really wanted to know us? Not saying we need to ask mere strangers to bare their souls. We rarely do that with those closest to us. But it does remind me that there is One who already knows the below surface me and you. And still loves us.
God created us. His Word reminds us we are fearfully and wonderfully made. This is a mystery to us. We know real us too well. Yet we long to be truly known – and accepted with all the flaws and insecurities – and yes, some uglies too.
Turns out, it was the same for Jesus when He was on earth. “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27b BSB) Those who looked at him often saw what He could do for them, or they ridiculed and judged Him, and some saw that deep desire of their soul could be found only in Him.
The next verse is well-loved by many “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 BSB) We cannot help but be weary and burdened in this life. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 BSB)
Ah, rest, soul rest. Perhaps on His mind when He spoke of rest was us coming to Him baring our soul. Finally acknowleging the love of a Savior who knows us so well and in whom we can be the real us. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30 BSB) A yoke doesn’t sound easy; a burden doesn’t sound light. But He is not laying more on us. He’s giving us a way to navigate through the burdens we face, to be led by Him – He does the carrying. Thank You, Lord, for seeing us, loving us, guiding us, and being our rest.
So close
A wee hours in the morning storm rumbled in the distance. I lay listening as it grew closer. Soon flashes of lightning lit up the edges of the curtains. Loud booms followed. And then, whoosh, rain pelted the still dark morning. I smiled and snuggled down.
Storms like these are comforting to me. For one who has always been in “control” (or thought I was), the weather was not something I could control. But I knew Who did. Living in the lightening capital of the USA I’ve experienced many thunderstorms. The fresh air that accompanies them, the quiet right after the storm – those are sweet moments and a reminder of our Mighty God.
That morning, after the storm, our walk along the water was still overcast. But as we turned to head back, a break in the clouds with a peak of blue sky and rays of sun casting down to the river lifted my head. A living picture of this verse: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 BSB)
My fears have been heightened a bit this past week. My default ‘fix it’ mentality has fought to take over. And I’ve fought to stay close to the Lord. Hard to say which is winning at the moment, depends on the moment 🙂
Further along in Psalm 34 I’ve clung to: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (vs 18 NIV) He knows our hearts, how this sin-stained, broken world at times breaks us.
There will be times in earth life where the crushing seems too much. There will be times in life where pure joy accompanies our days. But there will never be a time in this life that our Jesus is far away. He is with us in all the ups, downs, and middles.
I know all too well that sometimes He seems far away. Like He forgot me. Like I’m lost and I don’t have GPS. We feel this way because we are human – He doesn’t condemn us for our doubts or worrying. But He has fixed it all – past tense. Whatever you’re going through, He’s got a great ending. Sometimes in the here and now and sometimes only when we enter our forever days.
Going back to verse 1 of Psalm 34, I invite you to join me: “I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.” (NLT) Always looking not to what we see, but what will eternally be. You were prayed for before you read this. Our Father has prayer warriors covering us that we often never know about. Let’s turn our fears to praise and let Him be so close.
Courage
A pastor and author that I’ve come to dearly love, announced it is time for him to step down from his role. He’s in his 70s and physically things aren’t going well. Tears sprang to my eyes. I’ve learned so much from him. Through the last couple of hard years his love for God and ability to teach the Bible have encouraged me more than he’ll ever know.
Courage is a scary word. To need courage implies that something is frightening or difficult or painful. In your life and mine multiple times we will need courage. Whether it’s when we’re 5 and afraid of bugs or 65 and afraid of losing a loved one – and all the in betweens – to take the next step requires courage.
The world would tell us we must find it in ourselves, or in a bottle, or in money, or in power. As I’ve read the Old Testament, I’ve seen that in Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and all the prophets the common thread was where their courage came from. As David faced Goliath he shouted: the battle is the Lord’s! The writers of the New Testament daily faced persecution – and it was ugly. Being flogged, imprisoned, tortured – still they persevered, but not in their strength.
So where does that kind of courage come from? There’s a word I love and daily try to give: encouragement. A little word that sounds like a nice thing to say. But ‘en’ means to put ‘in to’ or ‘on to’. And ‘ment’ means to put into action.
God encourages us through His Word. The Holy Spirit, residing in us, encourages us as He lives in us. And we in turn are to encourage those around us. When I’m at a low point, my friends speak truths to me. My husband assures me. And God tells me over and over He is my strength, my ever-present help in trouble, the One who goes before me – beside me – behind me.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 NIV)
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2Thessalonians 16-17 NIV)
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)
Whatever you’re facing today, I want to encourage you: you are dearly loved by your Creator; nothing is too hard for your Heavenly Father; the best is yet to come. For we have an eternal hope not in this world but in the One who helps up defeat lions, walk into promised lands, stand firm in our faith, and reminds us the promise of forever is the courage we need for this moment.
parisrenae 