When they Looked Up

This is taken out of context from the story of the Transfiguration, but it hit me today.

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus

In the middle of horrible situations, this is quite a refreshing thought. We hear bad news -- something that terrifies, us, scares us, throws us off base. And we fall to the ground.

Jesus comes, and he touches us.

And he tells us not to be afraid, and asks us to get up.

And if we can look up, we will se no one except Jesus.

And if we do that, there is our comfort, our security, our peace, the meeting of our needs. When we see no one except Jesus, we can see answers.

So whatever you face today, don't be afraid -- Let Jesus touch you, and then looku p -- and you'll see no one except Him.

I remember the song from my childhood,

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

The Land of the Living

LORD, show me your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not abandon me to the will of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me. But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD'S goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!

In my world, I don't have real "enemies" -- most people I either get along with fairly well, or I ignore them. But in this very real and difficult world that I have chosen to inhabit, there are things, situations, problems that can become my enemies. They present themselves in many forms, but they take me to uneven paths and they do "rise up against me."

Sometimes circumstances lead me to feel as though I am no longer living -- as though I am simply walking through a fog of frustration, depression, anxiety. It is then when these verses are most necessary. This IS the land of the living. I am very much alive and I will see God's goodness here -- in the midst of all the rest.

And thus, it is time for me to take courage... to be "stouthearted" and to wait for the Lord. What is it that He will do? I am not certain. But I know that it will be good, that it will be right, and that regardless of my situation, I will see His goodness here, in the land of the living.

I Will Go WIth You

"I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.
Genesis 47:3-4

Life is a long journey made up a series of journeys, smaller side trips so to speak. There are times when these trips lead us down familiar roads that we have travelled before. But occasionally there are paths that are unfamiliar, scary even. Sometimes these are roads that God asks us to go down, and other times we find ourselves on paths of our own choosing, that require us to return to the main road.

But regardless of how we find ourselves on a side-road of life, there are the comforting words "I will go with you, and I will surely bring you back again." These words that God spoke to Jacob are true for me, for all of us, today.

These words bring great comfort to me at this point in my life. Wherever I find myself, God is with me, and He will bring me back again, safely, to a good place for me.

Are you down a scary road, walking on an unfamiliar path? God will go with you, and He will surely bring you back.