From "Streams in the Desert"

The red words are the ones that particularly stood out to me.

Look, a time is coming – and has come – when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone, because my Father is with me.—John 16:32

It need not be said that to carry out conviction into action is a costly sacrifice. It may make necessary renunciations and separations which leave one to feel a strange sense both of deprivation and loneliness. But he who will fly, as an eagle does, into the higher levels where cloudless day abides, and live in the sunshine of God, must be content to live a comparatively lonely life.

No bird is so solitary as the eagle. Eagles never fly in flocks; one, or at most two, ever being seen at once. But the life that is lived unto God, however it forfeits human companionships, knows Divine fellowship.

God seeks eagle-men. No man ever comes into a realization of the best things of God, who does not, upon the Godward side of his life, learn to walk alone with God. We find Abraham alone in Horeb upon the heights, but Lot, dwelling in Sodom. Moses, skilled in all the wisdom of Egypt must go forty years into the desert alone with God. Paul, who was filled with Greek learning and had also sat at the feet of Gamaliel, must go into Arabia and learn the desert life with God. Let God isolate us. I do not mean the isolation of a monastery. In this isolating experience He develops an independence of faith and life so that the soul needs no longer the constant help, prayer, faith or attention of his neighbor. Such assistance and inspiration from the other members are necessary and have their place in the Christian’s development, but there comes a time when they act as a direct hindrance to the individual’s faith and welfare. God knows how to change the circumstances in order to give us an isolating experience. We yield to God and He takes us through something, and when it is over, those about us, who are no less loved than before, are no longer depended upon. We realize that He has wrought some things in us, and that the wings of our souls have learned to beat the upper air.
We must dare to be alone. Jacob must be left alone if the Angel of God is to whisper in his ear the mystic name of Shiloh; Daniel must be left alone if he is to see celestial visions; John must be banished to Patmos if he is deeply to take and firmly to keep “the print of heaven.”

He trod the wine-press alone. Are we prepared for a “splendid isolation” rather than fail Him?

 

Patience is Not for Cowards

About a year ago, I naively breathed a prayer that patience would be grown in me.  I have learned that God takes me seriously because the last 10 months have been about patience.  I am learning to live in the midst of uncertainty, letting time take its course.  This is a challenging lesson for me as I tend to be an immediate, get up and go kind of person. 

I am learning that patience is enduring under difficult circumstances.  Each one of us experiences difficult circumstances and we must learn to persevere in the face of delay or provocation without acting on our emotions in a negative way.  Patience can also be described as enduring or forbearing and it is the latter that has piqued my interest.

"Forbearing" is a compound word, a word made up two other words, in this case "for bearing".  I was not sure what that exactly meant but I wondered if that particular phrase was predicated by a fill in the blank  "ie ___________ is for bearing". Life is for bearing. Challenges are for bearing. Sadness is for bearing. I then flipped it around and considered "bearing for" and these thoughts came to mind: bearing for growth, bearing for running the race set before me, bearing for the unknown future. Either way, 'for bearing' and 'bearing for' means having patience, so I dug into scripture and came up with a couple of references that particularly struck a chord in me.

1 Thessalonians 5:14b -15 (NLT)
Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Colossians 1:11 (NLT)
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy.

Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Growing in patience has been a gutsy, wrestle-in-the-mud, life-changing process.  Patience by its very definition does not deal with immediacy, and thus does not instantly grow in me.  Growing in patience requires patience!  It requires courage and bravery. And it requires trust and faith in the One who began the good work in me, promising to continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Jesus returns (Phillipians 1:6 NLT)

Patience is NOT for cowards.

No Stasis Here

My last blog was before Friday and now this post is after after Friday. The beautiful thing about time is that it passes at a constant and steady rate, uninterrupted by circumstance, people, or mood.  My first thought was that I was once again in stasis, a state or condition in which things do not change, move or progress, but now realize that is not true!  Over the last 10 months, I have grown, changed and moved forward! No stasis here! I am very thankful for the time I have been given and the lessons I have learned. I have made a promise to myself that I will never overcommit myself again. Instead, I will invest that time in my faith, my family, and my friends.  This is a huge change for me - once again, no stasis here!

I woke this morning with a great sense of relief that this part of my journey is done, and now rests on the back burner for the next couple of months.  This song was on my mind before my eyes opened.  I have included it here as it may be relevant to you as well - the highlighting is my own, and indicates words that particularly spoke to me.

Great is Your faithfulness oh God

You wrestle with the sinner's heart

You lead us by still waters in to mercy

And nothing can keep us apart

So remember Your people

Remember Your children

Remember Your promise

Oh God

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice God of Jacob

You use the weak to lead the strong

You lead us in the song of Your salvation

And all Your people sing along

So remember Your people

Remember Your children

Remember Your promise

Oh God

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough for me [x2]

So remember Your people

Remember Your children

Remember Your promise

Oh God

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough

Your grace is enough for me

Your grace is enough

Heaven reaching down to us

Your grace is enough for me

God I see your grace is enough

I'm covered in your love

Your grace is enough for me

For me