This definition of fearing the Lord: the assurance that God is watching you.
Jesus is my home at home and my home on the road. It is in this cultivation of Home with Him that I am able to go out into battle, go on in the journey. Without Home, I’m untethered, unsettled.
“For Elisabeth Elliot, the foundation of life was trust in the love of God. Not trust that she would live, as she told her family all those years ago as she set out for Tewæno, not trust that things would go well, but trust in who God is. If the great hope of her faith is true, then in the end, the rings spreading out across the surface of the pond, the air displaced by the stone as it flew, the stone itself, are all held in the heart of God, where mercy and justice are never in contradiction, and all things in heaven and earth will finally be made whole.” via
A few days ago, Anna ended up with two hands full of splinters. It was unpleasant and it took two Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes and a very patient and diligent John to get them out. In that moment I wanted nothing more than for this reality to not be true. I realized then how weak my stamina muscle is. Usually when I encounter uncomfortable feelings or circumstances, I do everything I can to escape them. But the splinters HAD to get out. There was no avoiding the process or Anna’s less than happy feelings. So I asked God, who are You here? In moments like this that can’t be avoided, moments I should stay present? And I didn’t get some grand or great response. But I did acknowledge that He was with me. And that counts for something. Not bearing the weight of an unpleasant emotion or challenging situation alone. It counts for a lot.
“I’m aiming for sustainability. This isn’t a race. There is no rush, even as I feel eager for things to be better as soon as possible. The goal is sustainability and true change for myself, and that takes time. Showing up with what I have is enough.” Allison Bradley wrote these words about yoga, but I’m applying them to my health in general. Movement, intake, rest, chronic pain.
It (parenting, home-making, work, accomplishments, etc) doesn’t have to be spectacular and sparkly and visible to be good; it can be ordinary. Faithfulness can be chosen in the small, incremental next steps. And I think God especially smiles on that.
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