Through my reflection the past few days, I'm looking at familiar scriptures with new eyes. Looking at some thinking to myself, "This is true, Sarah. Read it again, and this time, read it like it's true."
Like this verse:
Psalm 23:4 (New International Version)
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Like this verse:
Psalm 23:4 (New International Version)
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Upon examination- this scripture is saying that God's big shepherd's crook was comforting. I appreciate that while walking through dark days/experiences, God is very clearly leading and guiding (that' what shepherd's staffs do, right?). I'm guessing what it feels like though, in the darkness, is just someone yanking on you. What we can't see is that He's yanking you away from danger.
Another phrase I'm stuck on: All the verses that reference hiding in the shadow of His wings?
Psalm 57:1
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
Since I have never actually seen something hide under a wing, my mind reverts to the image of being a child, hiding in a closet with my parents during a tornado (no, not the same, but stay with me here). Although curious to see the tornado, there was no way I was going to leave that safe spot, and leave my parents to get a look.
Are any of you like me? In some twisted way even though I know that I'll probably get hurt, I want a front row seat during the stormy/difficult/dark times. I think that by watching the storm pass, I'll see clearly what God is doing, and how He's doing it, so that I can see exactly how He's going to lead me out. Imagine the amount of debris that would wound/hurt me if I insist upon seeing all the carnage that the storm causes... When what I'm supposed to be doing during the storms that rage in my life is tucking up next to/under Him, and listening to His heartbeat while the storm passes. He shields me from the disaster and I walk away unscathed.
If you're up for it: I have an odd challenge for you bloggie friends out there. If you could give a scripture or testimony of God's faithfulness in times of storms/darkness/unknowns/difficulty, what would it be? Share as a comment below- and read others' comments too.
5 comments:
Also, Psalm 91. (NLT)
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
Sorry for deleting my first post. Sometimes, I think I'm too blunt when I talk about my pregnancy with Abbie. Here's my edited version. :-)
Philippians 4:7 - NLT
"Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
This is one of the verses I clinged to during my pregnancy with Abigail.
Also, I read the story of when Abraham took Issac to the mountaintop to sacrifice him. I learned then what it truly means to put something I love on the altar. Powerful stuff.
Have you ever read "Hinds Feet on High Places"? I'm guess you have, but if not, let me know. I have a copy you can have, since I'm cleaning out pretty much everything, even books.
Before I even chose to be a Christian, God walked me through a very dark time and showed Himself to me. I grew up in a home where one of my parents was an alcoholic, and when I was 15 my grandfather died of Alzheimer's.
His decline was so painful to watch, and our family was so ill-equipped to cope. I decided that there must not be a God because of the suffering I was witnessing.
But at his funeral, it was as though God whispered directly to me, telling me that my grandfather's body was just a shell. He was an eternal being, created by God, and he was somewhere now . . . That moment gave me a new certainty that there God was real, and that He was the creator of life, and souls, and the one who could welcome me into eternity someday.
It took me 4 more years to become a Christian, but it all started with that moment at a very dark time.
Nancy
Sarah,
I followed your comment over, from Sarah's blog (Our Journey to Grace).
The scripture that I was going to share was already shared by Aimee. It is Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart (strong wall)."
This verse is the theme of my blog, "One Blessed Nest". I absolutely love the thought of hiding under the Lord's feathers--especially in a storm. I can't think of anything that sounds cozier, or safer, than that.
I think my biggest testimony of God's faithfulness would be my Chinese daughter, Teddi (Theadora). In 1999, the Lord planted the seed of adoption in my heart, and for 8 long years I prayed. I would ask through those years (over and over again), if He was going to bring His promise to pass. Always, the Lord would confirm His promise (quickly), by showing me the name Theadora or Teddi-- He had given me this name from the very beginning. In 2007, I found our daughter on a "Waiting Child" list. On May 19th, 2008, we finally met the long awaited answer to my nine year prayer --our beautiful three year old daughter, Theadora Fu Xiao. Theadora means "Gift of God". On the day we recieved "our gift" in China, she was wearing a bright pink ruffled skirt, and a little boy's denim shirt. On the collar of the shirt was embroidered a tiny teddy bear. The Lord had completely sealed His promise! I was in awe!
Always remember that He knows your heart Sarah, that His timing is perfect (even when we have NO idea what is taking Him so long), and that under His wing is the perfect place to be.
Praying for you during this time,
Tina
And David strengthened himself in the Lord.
In the midst of tremendous difficulty, David remembered that his only hope was in the Lord. It is after this that David is crowned king!
Blessings,
Sarah
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