At this present moment, I am sitting on the back porch of my new home, living in a new state, a new city, and serving in a new church.
The view from my porch is fantastic. I see foliage, green and lush, surrounding and hugging an old barn that happens to be on our property. I am watching a duck waddle from the pond a few yards away. A beautiful black butterfly just flew past my head as my ears hear the beating of hummingbird wings, the croaking of frogs and the honking of geese as they prepare to fly to colder regions.
My heart is as full as my senses and all I can say is, “Thank you, Father.” This gratitude flows from a heart and mind which have learned to trust and wait for God’s promises.
You see, over the years my situation and view have been very different. I have come from a seven year journey of walking in a season of waiting and struggle as my faith was tested. My situation in life at that time was unexpected and frankly, undesired. Had I known that God was taking me through a seven year, seven day journey, I might not have made the trek. But, He knew that, of course. So, He did not tell me the details nor the length of the journey. I learned that my only task was to seek and hear His voice and follow day-by-day.
“My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27
Some days I made the journey and other days, I sat down in rebellion and anger at what seemed like an unending road ahead.
“For I know the plans that I have for you”, declared the Lord, “plans for welfare and not calamity, plan to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
In faithfulness, God lifted me up and enabled me to walk on and not just make it by the skin of my teeth, but to make it as one who :
looks more like Christ,
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” 2 Corinthians 3:18
trusts His Word to perform its work in me,
“For this reason, we also constantly thank God that when you receive the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God, which performs its work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
now prays with confidence that He hears and will answer,
“Until now, you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” John 16:24
believes more that His Word is life directing my faith,
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are life.” John 6:63
“…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…” 2 Peter 1:3-4
and has learned that faith really is obedience demonstrated in doing what God has called me to do each day so that He can then reveal the next step.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
My prolonged journey has not just led me to this beautiful place as I previously described, but to a beautiful place in relationship with my Father.
The scene before me is a reminder of His goodness to me. This scene is not expected, but just a tangible picture of His grace and peace in my heart, which has, through the trials, learned to abide more in Him, trusting Him every step of His beautiful way.