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| Image by 은주 송 from Pixabay |
All journeys begin with a first step, and another, and another. The farther we travel, the heavier each step becomes unless we have hope of finding resting spots along the way.
We get up each morning and restart our journey. This
section might be easier or harder than the one before, but one thing never changes.
Our faith will give us the strength we need to face whatever trials await us.
“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young
men fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Jeremiah
40:31.
This scripture lifted my spirits in a very
personal way. First, I strained the hamstrings on both of my legs during my
last move. The simple acts of walking or getting up and down from a chair are difficult.
According to my doctor, only physical therapy will heal the injury. With effort
and prayer, I’m confident I too will eventually walk and not be weary.
I’ve grown weary in other ways too. My heart longs
for a place that I can once again call home, a place with deep connections to
family and community.
God answered my prayer with scripture. “For I know
the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for
harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.
During my last visit with my daughter to my hometown,
friends asked me to breakfast. At first, I hesitated, then decided not to blow
off the invitation. I’m so glad I listened to that nudge from the Holy Spirit.
My friends invited one of our former classmates to
join us. Ed and I had often crossed paths before I moved out of state, and his
kindness always impressed me. Fifty years later, we are both single and at a
crossroads in our lives. We both felt an instant connection, which has only intensified
with every phone call, text, and visit since that initial meeting.
Now I understand why this scripture kept popping
up in so many uncanny ways over the course of this last year. “Then the Lord
God said, ‘It’s not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper
as his partner.’” Genesis 2:18.
And so, those who wait for the Lord not only see
their strength restored through His grace, but they will also see the good
things of the Lord in the land of the living, regardless of age or circumstances.
Thank you, Lord, for blessing this woman with
renewed strength and a companion to walk with, side by
side, with You. Amen.
