Keep Your Hands Inside The Ride At All Times

Wow. So, it is late Wednesday and this roller coaster of a week so far has left me with the pressing urge, desire and want to run away.

I know I'm not the only one that has ever felt this way. When it all goes wrong or there are difficult tasks ahead or just in facing daily obstacles that slam you right in the face often times can make a person want to turn tail and run.

I've been fighting this the past few days.

Few things have gone right so far this week. And by right, I guess I should say "as planned." When my life gets crazy busy, I'm a planner. I make lists and even my lists have lists! But add to all the normal craziness a looming magazine deadline, illness, the beginning of the second semester of nursing, having to suck it up and take the heat for a situation that is someone else's responsibility....blah blah blah...words words words. Life.

Yeah, life is like that at times. I have found it so easy to be discouraged in these past few days and thankfully the Lord allows me to stop, take a breath and look at the bigger picture. Why am I discouraged and defeated? Because I'm focused on me. I'm focused on the problem. I'm focused on what that person did to me that I didn't "deserve." I was not focused on the One who held the problems, who allowed all of this to occur to grow me and teach me and bring me to the end of myself...again. To draw me nearer to Him. How wonderful to know I can turn to my Lord and His Word and find instant peace and comfort in knowing he's saying, "I got this." (as my friend Rhonda says.) God's got this!

"...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

My mind and my heart have been meditating on this verse from Joshua today. So many others have faced such greater trials than I could ever imagine. Yet from big trials to the small ones, we can be strong and courageous. We can carry with us, for those that know the Lord, that comfort and knowledge that God has gone before us. He directs our path. For His glory.

At this point I am just going to add my little disclaimer that these are late night ramblings. The overflow of an overworked mind and a burdened heart. No real purpose in this blog post tonight other than to give sentences and paragraphs to the continuous thoughts and meditations of my mind from the past few days. And basically to preach to my own heart these truths. If you happen to benefit from these words - to God be the glory!

Where my mind has been today is in fighting this urge to run. In grappling with the reality that running does not solve anything, more often than not, it adds to and complicates and invariably delays the inevitable.

And then there was the gentle reminder from the Lord that He is to be my refuge. No mountain top or snowy trail or secluded cabin can bring me the peace that only my Heavenly Father can.

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." 2 Samuel 22:31

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

"The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:22

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah" Psalm 62:8

Oh man! I love that one! "Pour out your hearts to him" What an invitation!

"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73:28 (emphasis mine.)

It is good to be near God. Such true and wonderful words.

So after reading those verses, running away to some secluded space doesn't seem to be such a pressing need for me now, when really what my heart desires is to run to Christ. Beautiful mountain views and birch wood forests are just that, beautiful. But there is such joy, life and peace in trusting and taking refuge of our mighty and Sovereign God.

My Refuge. My Strength.

I will have more to say about the reason I am posting this passage of scripture in the near future (I hope!) But I really wanted to pass this along, as every single word in Psalm 73 speaks to where I am in the Lord.

Psalm 73

BOOK III : Psalms 73-89

A psalm of Asaph.

¹Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

³ For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.

⁵ They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.

⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.

⁷ From their callous hearts comes iniquity ;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

⁹ Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.

¹¹ They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"

¹² This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.

¹³ Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴ All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.

¹⁶ When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me

¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.

¹⁹ How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!

²⁰ As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

²¹ When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,

²² I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

I am so very thankful that He, by His mighty yet tender, patient and loving hand, has drawn me nearer this day. And thankful that He alone is my refuge and strength.