Time To Take A Breath

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.” (Psalm 121)

One year ago today I walked out of a place where I had been a part of the staff for a long time for the last time as a staff member. While I knew I was doing the right thing, I also felt a particular sense of heaviness that day about leaving what I had been such a part of as well as not knowing what was to lie ahead. You might even say that I felt lost, and I didn’t know what to do with my time that day.

The months leading up to this day were quite difficult, and I had spent a lot of time with Robin searching God’s leading for us, and having followed His leading in this step I was ready for what He had next. Or at least I thought I was ready. But God, He knew the process he had for leading me to this next place, and that it was going to be longer than I had anticipated. He also knew that I would need to rest in Him to find strength and wisdom during the search.

I think most of us can relate to situations such as this to some degree by changing up the variables in some way. Moving from a place of security to a place of uncertainty requires trust, and with God we know we have someone imminently trustworthy who will direct our steps. We also know that despite what we might think best, He knows what the real best is and how He will bring it about. It is during these times where we find the reality of Scripture passages such as Psalm 121.

I can daily praise God not because He has shown me an answer to our journey, but because I know that He is the One who prepares and sustains me to trust Him through it while waiting on His outcomes. Today Sarah writes about those times when we have to traverse rugged territories, and how we need to find our rest in God. And as the psalmist wrote, our God neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is our protector and our keeper, and He is the one who guards everywhere we go. My God is working and He is not slack in His efforts. His plans and the timing of those plans are perfect. And because of that I know that I can trust Him to direct my steps and do what is best. And in those moments when I feel otherwise, when the clouds roll in, when I feel lost, it is then that I need to take those thoughts captive and honestly lay them at His feet and find my reassurance and my rest in Him.

Psalm 63:6-8 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (6/27)

Rest with Me a while. You have journeyed up a steep, rugged path in recent days. The way ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. Look neither behind you nor before you. Instead, focus your attention on Me, your constant Companion. Trust that I will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on your journey.

I designed time to be a protection for you. You couldn’t bear to see all your life at once. Though I am unlimited by time, it is in the present moment that I meet you. Refresh yourself in My company, breathing deep draughts of my My Presence. The highest level of trust is to enjoy Me moment by moment. I am with you, watching over you wherever you go.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15