Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path…
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27 (read the whole thing!)
Sometimes, even when there is a lot that’s encouraging and the bottom line is that we are grateful, regardless, stuff can pile up; and then we look at each other and one of us says, “Everything is more than a bit overwhelming at the moment, isn’t it?” And then the response is, “You’ve sure got that right!”
That’s when it is a good idea to say, “Let’s go out to dinner,” and we do. And then maybe we just sit there and hold hands and look at each other and sigh.
So we did that Friday. Of course the stuff that is overwhelming us is still there and we aren’t any closer to answers necessarily… but the food at Jack’s certainly is good. And the company I keep there – even though we sigh a lot and, on this evening, don’t really have a lot of sparkling conversation – is absolutely wonderful.
I remember when a friend in Florida was struggling in a relationship, “I prayed so hard asking God to make things right,” he said, “the next day everything went beautifully. God is so good.”
And I told him that I too am grateful, and thanks for sharing. “But I pray you will still share when things are not what you are hoping for,” I said. “I pray that you know deep down in your heart that God is so good even then.”
God is good, regardless. And I believe that it is when things are not so clear, and circumstances do not make things easy, and when we are disappointed and frustrated and overwhelmed – it is then that, like the psalmist, I am still confident and can say that, “I will see the goodness of the Lord. in the land of the living…”
In the land of the living… today… not just later but now. So, “teach me you way, Lord, and lead me on a level path…” – DEREK
Thank you for these words. Yesterday was my husband’s memorial service and my stepdaughter and I have both had months of too much stress. We have ru. On adrenaline for months and now it’s just gone and we are both exhausted and drained. Even the weather is not helping – central Florida with rain and temperatures dropping, everything is grey. But, I know that God hasn’t left me hopeless and that there will be sunshine again.
Bless you both as you also feel overwhelmed but know God’s presence.
Thanks so much for your kind words. I know this has been an exhausting time for you of relentless heartache and challenge. And you are right, God does not detour the valley of the shadow but promises to walk with us all the way through. We pray that you begin to see more light in time and that – always – you know peace.