Taking The Scenic Route

            An acquaintance shared the story about a man, who is at least legally blind who was out for a walk who trusted the position of the sun, a talking compass and truncated domes—(which I learned are textured platforms on walking trails for the visually impaired).  As the man was walking, somehow became sidetracked and was, in essence, lost.  He was able to orient himself and find his way back to the trail and eventually home.

            I must admit, when my husband and I are traveling, we end up required to occasionally take a detour for a variety of reasons---sometimes just going into a town to re-fuel, or taking a wrong turn, an accident (that’s an awful one, but does happen), or thinking we are in one place, but we’re not!  The problem arises, when trying to get back to our original route!  Usually, while my husband is frantic about finding the right road and not missing our turn, I’m totally enjoying the altered plan.  I like thinking of it as “the scenic route!”

            We each have difficulties daily to work through.  This COVID-19 thing has added stress to already full plate of tension levels.  It’s left people out of work, students unable to attend classes, altered graduation and wedding plans, eliminated weekly worship services and visiting friends and relatives, altered shopping routines and travel, and even created separation from those we love who are in the hospital.  

            Many of us are feeling not only horribly sequestered, but alone spiritually because, as human Believers we have need for interaction with other Believers for encouragement, teaching and learning.  Admittedly we have technology to soften the distance, yet I find it not nearly as encompassing.  I’m a hugger and it’s hard not to offer the ‘hug’ to another during a greeting, but there is something about being physically in a place with other Believers!

            It’s so good to know that Christ’s light shines on the pathways of shadows and darkness as He whispers to us that regardless of what we are enduring, he’s with us.  He offers a peace that can’t be conjured up in the imagination of human minds.  It’s a peace that fills our whole being, giving us the ability to cope with our anxieties and rest in Him, knowing one day we will be together with others who share the love of Jesus.

            When we can look at a situation that has gone awry, as being the ‘scenic route,’ we can better navigate through our emotions and even fears.  We can trust God’s truth, whether in His Word, through music or other Believers (even if it comes via telephone, text, letter or any other means) and use them as indicators to help us get back on the right path that leads to peace.

            It isn’t always easy and sometimes, depending on circumstances it creates a lot of anxiety and even fear.  But God tells us to not be afraid, 365 times in the Bible.  If he says it that often, I’d think he meant it and we’d need to pay attention.  Again, that’s not always easy.  But when we take a wrong path, life throws a curve, or we just feel lost; we can have His assurance that if we’ll follow Him, he’ll get us through!

Prayer Changes Things

Prayer changes things.  I’ve heard this since I was a child, and absolutely believe it, yet while I pray every single day, I still struggle with ‘am I praying right?’  Do I ask God for the right thing, in the right time, at the right place and with a right mind and heart?  While I don’t ‘fret’ about it usually; sometimes I wonder.

There were times when I attended a Sunday School class or even a church meeting, and we went around the room to have prayer.  I often panicked thinking I wouldn’t have anything to say.  Let’s admit it.  There are those who say such eloquent prayers, I’m intimidated.  Is that sinful?  Maybe.  I hope not, but regardless I felt less qualified than these other speakers.  

I doubt that I’m alone.  I’ve heard others say, “I don’t pray out loud!”  There was one woman whom I respect very much and she surprised me one day by saying, she loved being the ‘silent pray-er.’  She said, “All I have to do is focus and say, Yes, Lord.  Yes, Lord!”  I believe many of us feel this way, although I hadn’t thought of it quite like that!

I’ve been working through a study called “What Happens When Women Pray?”  We’ve been deluged with changes in our world since the COVID-19 attack.  Going shopping, regular doctor appointments (eyes, dental, etc.) have been canceled—or rescheduled well into the future, going to church, visiting neighbors and even giving hugs has all been curtailed.  And now they are predicting a food shortage!  What’s next?

We as humans, need physical contact.  It’s what keeps us going.  God created us this way!  Instead, we are holed up in our homes, doing the best we can.  But it’s hard.  We are filled with anxiety and wonder who the next victim will be and where in the world will we be when this finally comes to an end, or will it end?

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul cries to the Lord for healing of some kind of ailment which the Bible doesn’t share.  But he prays diligently three times for the removal of this condition.  Three times God tells him ‘no.’  Instead God tells him “My grace is sufficient for thee.”  Grace in this situation, I recently learned means more specifically, “God’s Divine influence on my heart.”  There is hope in that statement.

As we face more trials with families, finances and medical issues, we find ourselves on our knees crying out to God for help.  From what I’m reading, however, it’s important that we as a people cry out in unison.  We need to cry out in one accord.  God does care about where we are and what we are facing.

When we pray, are we focused on God, or does our mind wander to dinner plans, what outfit will be the best for today, what’s the weather going to be, where the kids are or a hundred other little paths our minds will take us, if we aren’t truly focused.  A true prayer isn’t necessarily said by rote.  God wants to hear our hearts not just our minds.  And when we pray, we must believe---believe that He hears us, and that He knows what’s best, in all situations!

God has the ability to influence our heart when we believe.  Not all our prayers will be answered the way we hope or ask, any more than they did for Paul.  But we can have peace knowing that God is still in control and will give us what we need and in just the right time.

Photo credit:  gettyimage.com 

Who Will Remember Him?

Challenges are all around us.  We are hunkered down in our houses trying to make the best of a bad situation.  We all agree it’s something we should do, but none of us want to be holed up in one place for longer than a day.  Yet most of us are following the social distancing mandates.

The atmosphere is unchartered.  We are fearful.  No one wants to be the next one who catches the villainous germ.  A friend of mine posted recently someone in her apartment complex has caught the demon but most don’t know who.  They aren’t privy to that information.  So, they (and we) wait and press on the best way we know how.

Add to this general health issues and the economic struggles, that for many families, is a very real concern, and the storm threatens to overwhelm us.  Depending on the severity of the additional difficulties, we consider giving into defeat.  The temptation to quit has caused more than one person to ‘throw in the towel,’  literally in this life, by taking their own.  Fear can do that to a body and that’s scary.

For most of us though, we hang on by a thread and listen; listen closely to see if we can hear anything besides those voices screaming in our heads to give up.  Finally, ever so faintly, we hear a whisper in the wind.  It’s calling; no….He’s calling.  The voice we are hearing is the Messiah.  The God-man that went to the cross.  He’s calling us to hold on; to reach for him even in our darkest moments.

He has the ability to give us the strength we need, even when we don’t feel like we have anything left.  He after all, gave everything he had, including his life, ---so we could have life.  Isn’t that what Easter is all about?

Our days seem filled with darkness and despair, not for a moment certain who is going to be the next victim.  Will it be my neighbor, one of my children, my spouse or even me?  It (the germ) is indiscriminate to race, gender, religion or creed.  It attacks anyone within range.  

I wonder how Jesus must have felt when he was carrying the cross to Calvary.  Could he have felt, even if just for a moment, there wasn’t a person in the crowd who cared what he did.  Did he feel attacked from all sides?  I can’t imagine the emotions he must have gone through, even though he knew the sacrifice he was making was his destiny. 

We’ve just celebrated Easter and our lives continue.  It’s what we do.  We will eventually get  through this Covid-19 mess, and those who would call on God in their despair will once again get busy with the movement of life, and its fast pace.  Will these same people, who desperately called on Him to help them in their time of need, remember who He is when life is ‘good’ again? 

Will the society who reaches out to each other in decent humanity now, remember how dark and bleak life felt for some, after the ‘terror’ of not knowing who is next for the virus, is gone? It’s something worth thinking about.

I'm Glad I Failed

           A friend of mine recently posted on face book, “I’m glad I failed!”  When that’s the first line in a post, it catches your attention.  Who likes to fail?  Most don’t, but she meant it.  As I read the rest of the post, it made perfect sense.

            It seems she wanted to participate in a mission trip in another country and needed to raise funds to be able to cover costs.  She’d had a history of writing successful queries requesting funds from businesses for other such programs, knowing which corporations would be supportive of the mission and her efforts.

            As per her usual, she sent out fifty request letters, assuming even if 30% came back positive, there would be that much covered.  Her expectations didn’t come close to what she thought she’d receive.  Not one person responded to her request.  She was stricken; so much so, she said she cried for days.

            What she couldn’t know, however, was God’s thumbprint on all the turmoil and heartbreak she went through.  God’s timing is perfect.  He knows the beginning from the end and what’s going to happen long before it does.  He is never surprised!  God knew when the Coronavirus was going to hit.  He knew people would be dying and we would be in quarantine.  He knew long before my friend began requesting monies to make this trip possible, that it would be impossible for her to go!

            She recognized that God was not punishing her, or not caring about what she wanted to do--- and that her dream was still noble!  He was protecting her!  He did care about where she would be, the germ she would be around, and the end-result, had she taken the trip.

            As humans, who can’t see the vision of God, we get frustrated and angry when things we plan don’t work out the way we expect.  Regardless of what we desire, God really does know best.  It’s hard, however, to believe that, when we view what goes wrong as a ‘denial,’ failure, or even bullying, depending on the situation!

            This germ that has our world turned upside down, leaves most of us sequestered in our homes in isolation from things we like to do and people we love.  There are even those families divided by a glass door because parents want to protect their children from the illness, since they were exposed to the germ and are potentially carriers.  This is hard stuff.

            But God still knows best.  He remains Sovereign.  As our world moves closer to his return, we should not be surprised by the happenings around us.  But we do need to reflect on our responses to the turmoil.  

            No one wants to see another person violently ill, and ultimately succumbing to death.  It’s our job as Believers to lift each person, infected or not, up to the Father who holds the world in his hands, and trust his greater vision.  We need to share the Good News of salvation with those who don’t believe, because let’s face it; none of us know when we will breathe our last.  This pandemic, if nothing else, drives that message home in full force.  Yet, regardless of what we go through, we won’t fail if we are in Christ.

            It's Easter week.  Celebrate God's love.  Stay in His presence and stay safe, everyone!