Saturday morning brought a heaviness to my heart. My mind was tangled with all the events and experiences of the past week. Some, while proving to be exciting in many ways, also left me with an assortment of trepidation in that, I would need to step out farther relying more on my faith than solid facts in hand. Other things grew my self-confidence, and then there was that one, lone thing that revealed a glaring weakness in my leadership skills. The roller-coaster ride of emotions required a long, fast-paced walk, some meditative music, and considerations of God and His Word. Despite the mid-day heat (89 degrees on a winter’s day,) I donned the inherited walking shoes and wide-brimmed straw hat and set off on my usual route.
Making the loop at Trolley Barn Park my stride slowed down a bit as I was sharing the walkway with a few scurrying young children. I noticed in front of me a dad bearing the weight of portable chairs and a backpack. And somewhere behind me the callings of a little girl no more than six or seven, “Daddy? Daddy! Slow down, my feet are too little and I can’t go as fast as you.” Silence. “Daddy wait!” With my eyes still on the dad, I saw his left hand pop out and give the thumbs-up sign with a promise that he’d wait for her at the car. She upped her momentum and I walked steadily in the opposite direction. I had not shed a tear up until that point. But when I thought of my dear heavenly Father, my precious Abba Daddy, and how He would never let me walk alone I felt the welling in my eyes. For I know He is with me every unsteady step I take. “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21. Not only is He behind me, “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.” Isaiah 45:2-3
When we bring those many promises of God into these roller-coaster days and weeks, there is a stillness that overpowers the fear, the pride, the shame. And we are once again renewed and revived and ready to take on the next path with confidence that we never need God to slow down on our behalf. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b
I returned to the coolness of the view from the balcony, reminded once again of the goodness of God.
