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Whenever I hear a sermon, read a devotion, or listen to a song that says:

“I want you (Rheyma) to know Me (Jesus), to live for Me from the inside out, 

“I SCREAM, YES, GOD!”

“I WANT THAT!”

But what do I do with it? Anything?  Many times, not a whole lot, I’m sorry to say. I can read my devotional, a few verses in Your Word, and pray a few short prayers-usually requests. Many of those requests go something like: “Here I am Lord, use me,” or “Lead me Holy Spirit,” or “Help me to see others the way You see them. Amen”. But……….do I really spend time withYou? Just take a walk and talk with You? Maybe even stop and take time to listen? I’d say that’s pretty much a “not real well.” There seems to be sooo much to do, on all fronts, even on the relaxing fronts. Have you ever “tried” to relax? It’s exhausting!

I do try Jesus. I try to do the “right things.” I try to be honest and open with You.   I try to listen to You. I even try to be fertile soil for You. I try, and I try, and I try. Am I trying too hard? I am sure I get too entangled in trying. I think trying tends to be my default. As a believer, I have a responsibility to “work out my salvation,” to grow closer, and go deeper in my relationship with You, Jesus. That’s what you do in relationships, right? Well, at least the ones that are important to you, the ones you want to keep.

Jesus, I want and need You to teach me how to walk out my relationship with you. Not try to walk it out. I already know how to do that. It doesn’t work well…just sayin’…                                        

I think the biggest part of a relationship with You is just being with You, not trying to “do” for You, which is a great statement. But that is all it is unless I put my feet where my mouth is and allow You, Jesus, to teach me as I spend time just being with You.  

I’m ready and willing, Jesus. Let’s go for a walk.

Rheyma Oosterman

Have you ever had one of those moments when God stops you in your tracks and then proceeds to make it a teachable moment? Well, I have on more occasions than I like to admit. It seems like I am running ahead of God at times, and He has to slow me down with the nudge of His Holy Spirit. I will never forget one of those teachable moments. He stopped me in my tracks because I missed the exclamation point of an important moment. 

I was ministering with Sanctioned Love at a conference that we had been invited to in Nevada. Weeks before the conference, the Holy Spirit had given me someprophetic words for a few of the people we would be ministering to. I wanted to be prepared to give the words God had given me for those He would highlight at the conference. One of the words He gave me was a simple phrase, “Beam me up, Scotty.”

The team was positioned in the front of the church. When we started ministering to people, God highlighted a man He wanted me to pray for prophetically. As I began to pray for him, the words were bringing confirmation to his heart. God was reading his story and speaking it back to him. It was truly a prophetic prayer over him. While I was praying,I felt the Holy Spirit wanting me to wait and listen,but……I didn’t!  When I was done praying, I asked what his name was, and guess what? His name was Scott! God had already given me his name, but I didn’t wait for God’s reminder.

As I walked away from praying for Scott, the Holy Spirit arrested me and spoke to me. He said, “Joy, if you had only LINGERED, that prayer over Scott would have been even more impactful. The both of you didn’t know one another or each other’s names.” I had missed an exclamation point moment by not saying, “Beam me up, Scotty.” God was teaching me in that moment of a missed opportunity to show the greater Word! I needed to wait in the LINGER.

I pondered that lesson for days, and now when I minister, I’m learning to wait.

There is something powerful about waiting………in the LINGER.

 I looked up the definition of linger, and it said; “to stay in a place longer, to be slow in parting, to tarry.” I then looked up synonyms for the word linger, and it said, “wait around, stay, remain and pause.” In the Greek, the word linger means; “to take time, spend time and to be a time-wearer!”         

Did you get that??       

A time-wearer!

God wanted me to LINGER and “wear time” in that moment. Wearing time causes a space for impact! It gives room for the Kairos time of God so that He canshow His love with profound expression and with an exclamation point!

These are the days that God wants to make an impact! There is so much hinged on the word LINGER. Moving in the Spirit requires us to LINGER in the presence of God. LINGERING with the Holy Spirit while we are ministering will bring a full counsel of His Spirit into that moment. He wants the exclamation point moments to be the signposts of His Love. It’s the paradox of Habakkuk 2:3, “For a revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaks of the end and will not prove false.Though it LINGER, wait for it because it will certainly come and will not delay.”

To wait and LINGER is a delay, but God uses a paradox in this scripture, saying that waiting and LINGERING will not delay things. It will certainly come…WOW!

My prayer today is that the Bride of Christ would WAIT in the LINGER. May we be time-hearers and leave the exclamation points of God’s love everywhere, to everyone we minister to. We are the signposts of His Love!

Numbers 9:19-21

“Even when the cloud LINGERED over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites kept the LORD’s charge and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days, and they would camp at the LORD’s command and set out at the LORD’s command. Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they would set out. Whether it was by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up, they would set out”. 

Joy Pharo

In the corral gate, at the top of a hill, Molly the border collie sat like an ink etching on a sky canvas. One ear was cocked, the other hung down, and her wind-ruffled hair was the only hint of movement. She sat perfectly still, but not because she wanted to. She wanted to be part of all I was doing in the hot August sun: unsaddling a horse, pouring cold water on its sweaty back, currying it off, and turning it out after a hard, hot day.

She wanted to simply be Molly—smiling, dancing Molly—sounding the “strangers arriving” bark, chasing songbirds, herding cows, going when sent, coming when called, Molly. But she could not. Backhoe wheels and little racing dogs are a bad thing, and broken ribs a painful thing. So, she sat, unable to do more yet needing more. Needing love, needing affirmation, needing attention, needing all the things she got when she was active and doing. The yearning in her eyes, a small whine, a feeble step, and my compassion welled up into words. “Sit still Molly, I’ll come to you,” I said. 

Just then, a voice inside me broke through the pain and depression piled up like tumbleweeds against a barbed-wire fence. The wheels of the world and racing humans are a bad thing and a broken spirit, a painful thing. Unable to do, unable to serve, but wanting all the affirmation that comes with it. I sat on the ground with my arms around Molly and heard my Savior’s gentle whisper, “Sit still, and I will come to you.” 

“The Lord upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down…..He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 145:14 & 147:3 

© 2002 Jean Nelsen

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 

Fluffy doesn’t like to travel. In the past, I’ve hauled my cat around in a little kitty Winnebago made of cardboard, but she made such a ruckus that I decided to try a different tactic. I thought greater mobility might help her. If she could see what was going on, I reasoned, perhaps she’d be less disturbed. Surely, I thought, being able to get close to me would be a comfort.

So, the next time I traveled with her, I just tossed my cat into the car and took off. She was startled and suspicious of this turn of events, but was ok until she looked out the window. Her eyes dilated, and she began making noises I’d forgotten about since I stopped watching horror movies. She could not believe what was going on around her! Running from one spot to another, she kept looking for a way out. She jumped to the floor. She leaped to the back seat. Then, she planted her back feet on my shoulder and tried pawing her way through the slippery glass of the drivers-side window.

I plucked her ridged body from its perch and laid her down beside me. Scratching her ears I told her life would be better soon. My cat could not be consoled. She kept scrambling to the driver’s side window, shredding my leg in the process. Finally, she retreated under the front seat to do the only logical thing—sit there and wail. When we arrived at our destination, I had to drag her stiff little body from its dark abode and carry her into the house. She hid for several hours until she believed things might actually be all right again. I shook my head and chided her for her silliness.

But then “Someone” helped me remember the times I’ve acted like my cat. Unable to understand the Savior’s plan in the midst of frightening circumstances, I began racing around looking for a way out. Often, I’ve clung to things or relationships that were as slippery as window glass. Instead of resting in His presence, I’ve run frantically back and forth to view my problem from this angle and that angle.Finally, I have retreated to hide and whine to God about my misery. How much easier, how much more pleasant the journey if I had chosen to simply lay in His lap and let Him scratch my ears. He is, after all, in the driver’s seat. 

God, help me to relax in your presence and know that You are taking me somewhere good, even when life moves too fast and I can’t understand what’s going on around me. Thank you for being the Good Shepherd, and thank you for understanding my fears.

© Jean Nelsen

Several years ago, the Lord began teaching me about the importance of resting in Him. Scriptures tell us that rest is one of the fruits of walking in faith, “For we who have believed (personally trust and rely on God) do enter that rest….”  Hebrews 4:3.

Real rest is unnatural to the flesh, but it is first nature to the spirit. Romans 15:13 says, “…..there is joy and peace in believing”, and peace is a preceding factor to rest, and rest is a vital element to our spiritual existence.

Resting can often be one of the most difficult spiritual principles for us to learn to practice. Amid the struggle, we may hear God’s comforting voice say, “Relax, lay that struggle aside and rest in Me.” Then we must take a deep breath and allow ourselves to quiet down on the inside because whenever there is unrest on the inside, faith is unable to operate.

Resting however, is not “doing nothing.” It is an action word. It takes effort—otherwise, God would not be teaching us about it.

As humans, we find it hard to rest because our human nature is inclined to strive after things. We are also stress and worry over things. Satan loves this and uses it to his advantage. We end up trusting in our own abilities, even as believers, unable to rest until all is well in our minds.

To truly rest requires an on-purpose decision to do so. It takes quieting down what is going on inside and laying aside what’s happening on the outside. Choosing to yield only to the peace and presence of the Lord.

Rest is something that can only be entered into by faith. Faith must be released in order to lay hold of rest, both physically as well as spiritually. Both aspects are equally necessary and important. Failing to do either can allow you to become weak and vulnerable to attacks from the enemy.

 Proper rest for both the spirit and the body is actually one of the most powerful weapons against attacks of the enemy you could possess. It is in the process of resting spiritually and physically that the work of the Holy Spirit is at its strongest. When resting in Him, we are in a state of complete submission and yielded-ness. Spiritual rest allows you to remain in perfect contact and communion with the Spirit of God at all times.

Often a lack of physical rest during a trial or time of devastation, even when spiritual rest is being maintained, can allow the emotions to spin out of control to the degree that despair takes over the situation. When spiritual and physical rest are maintained, even though the situation may be difficult, our emotions will stay constant, balanced, and influenced by faith and peace rather than fear and worry. 

Under the Old Covenant, God required the His people to observe the Sabbath every week. No work from sundown Friday till sundown Saturday-a day of rest. Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our Sabbath. We rest in Him. This is where our restoration is found.

We know when soil is allowed to rest, it rebuilds itself and, as a result, will produce a great harvest. But if it is not allowed to rest but continually used, adding false nutrients, it will become totally depleted over time. The crop becomes less and less as well as more and more frail and empty. The busyness of the world can do the same thing to us.

Like faith, rest is not a one-time thing, but an everyday thing, a daily-decision-thing. As our trust increases in God, so will our rest. We are constantly moving toward obedience. Our hearts and minds can rest in the fact that God is trustworthy. Rest in the fact that He is faithful. Rest in the fact that everything He said is being fulfilled. Rest in the fact that He is taking care of it all as we believe and put our trust in Him.

We must be diligent and choose to enter rest.

I have been given an opportunity to share about my new book, “MESSY POEMS AND-NOT-SO PRIVATE PRAYERS.” How it came into being and what it’s all about, and maybe by the end of this blog, I will have taken the time to do that.

But right now, my heart wants to speak a word, a word of declaration. “You are more than you think you are.” You are not just a sheep roaming around the pastures of your life, grazing and waiting for your Good Shepherd to take you home. It’s so much bigger than that. 

I learned something new the other day as I was looking up the Sheepgate in Scripture. The Sheepgate in biblical history was the first gate ever built. Its purpose was to lead the hundreds of sheep into the temple courts for sacrifice. Once a sheep went in, well, it never came back out. It was actually a one-way passage. There was no provision on the other end of this doomed and quartered enclosure. 

The plan for these sheep was always the same. Everyone knew how it would end. It would be just like yesterday’s sacrifice.

Isn’t this where we sometimes get stuck? Stuck in our thinking that we know the “game plan” for ourselves and for our lives. That somehow nothing new could be true, at least based on our yesterday’s point of view. We so easily develop our own one-way kind of thinking. We think we already know what the full meal deal is for us. It sounds so dreadful and limited in view yet, it’s true. But, here’s the good news, we can shift our gears right out of these familiar and captive perspectives. It comes by reading the Word, the Good News in John 10:1-4 BSB 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.”

Only Jesus was willing and able to go through the one-way Sheepgate to the ultimate sacrifice. 

But we also need to recognize these three powerful words, “Leads Them Out.” Jesus himself has led us out of our doomed death; the sacrificial alter has been staid. He alone had the authority to turn a one-way gate into a two-way gate. Now, as His sheep, He faithfully takes us to quiet brooks of living waters. Because of Him, “We are more than we think we are.”

We have been given the right as His sheep to accept the Holy Spirit’s challenge. Go out of the gate, don’t stay, don’t stray, or rest in your own comprehensions of yesterday’s quarters-the ones that lead nowhere.          

SWING WIDE OH HEAVENLY GATES, AND LET THE KING OF GLORY COME IN!

This is the place I purposed to write my book from. My heart was to reveal, through my writings, the redemptive work of the cross. These are persuasions of how Jesus leads to the revelation of our spiritual freedoms in Him.  

I nearly flunked school. All my life, I have felt only half as smart as your average sheep. So, when the Holy Spirit started to download His poetic words of wisdom into my life, I ran! I ran as fast as any sheep could. Running and jumping out of the one-way Sheep Gate onto the path and through the two-way Sheep Gate of my Good Shepherd. 

I now challenge you. Take hold of your courage, and run past yesterday’s limitations and comprehensions. You are more than you think you are! So, go write your own book! Go out and declare His mighty working in your own life! Show the world the redemption of the two-way Sheep Gate!

Love, your sister Melissa

WOW! Jesus is moving so powerfully on the earth and Sanctioned Love has been about the Father’s business. Thanksgiving is flowing and hunger is deepening in all of us for the power of God to be released on the earth, as well as, in the lives of those we are privileged to encounter. Last year, during a 24-hour prayer time, the Lord spoke to us and said, “Go from field to field and be a spiritual medical team. This has surely been the case. The changing times on the earth have opened many effectual doors for powerful kingdom opportunities. The leaders we minister to consist of all ages as well as different population groups.    

The Lord had put on my (Lynda’s) heart and had impressed on me to study the fear of the Lord and healing, as well as teach it to my team. During our quarterly prayer and strategizing weekend, we took a morning to look at and really study John 5:1-16 —about the man by the pool of Bethesda. Here is a part of the teaching that I brought to the team.

John 5: 1-16  

5 Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 

6 Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, said to him, “Do you want to get well?” 

7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 

8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 

9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet, and began to walk. Now it was a Sabbath on that day. 

10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” 

11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” 

12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick it up and walk’?” 

13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 

14 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 

15 The man went away and informed the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 

16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on a Sabbath.

Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to be made whole?” The word whole in the Greek is olókli̱ros, meaning: entire, total, integral, lifelong, which more accurately can be translated, “Do you want to get your life back?”  This question is one we must really look at for ourselves. What is our part?  What are the changes that Jesus is asking us to make to receive this supernatural healing gift? Jesus has paid a beautiful and costly price for us to receive this gift of divine health. 

“…for by His stripes, we were healed”- Isaiah 53:5.  

Glory to God!      

John 5:5 says, “Now a man was there who had  been ill – [had an infirmity] – for thirty-eight years”.  When you read this in the Greek text, the word “had” is very important.  It is the word echo, which means, to have, hold, possess, and grip. In this case, we find the man was “in the grip of an infirmity” or more accurately he did not have the infirmity, but the infirmity had him. He was literally in the grip of his infirmity.  

He was a man who was financially destitute. He had lost everything due to the sickness and had been lying there for thirty-eight years. Then Jesus came. When He saw this man, Jesus literally fixed His eyes on him.   The word “saw” in Greek is the word: ὁράω.-(Transliteration: horaó) which means: I see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern, to make an investigation, an examination or to take a scrutinizing look. So, when Jesus saw this man, it was not just a superficial look; Jesus’ love scrutinized him. He observed that he was lying down physically, but Jesus saw more than that, He saw that this man was lying down on the inside. The Book of Proverbs tells us that, hope deferred is what makes the heart sad. This man had been there for thirty-eight years. That fact alone tells us that he had faith. He was at the pool of Bethesda (buh-THEZ-duh), which means House of Mercy, House of Grace in Greek. This man went there believing he would be one of the next to hopefully receive a miracle.  

It was at this place of mercy Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well?” (Do you want your life back?) The man answered, “Kurios,” meaning Sir or Lord. This answer is what opened the door for Jesus, yet the man continued with excuses. “I have no man to put me into the pool.” This was not the question Jesus asked him. He asked, “Do you want your life back?” Because the man called Jesus Lord, this gave Jesus access to go past the circumstances and excuses. “I have no one…”  We do not have to have it all together or be perfect. Jesus’ love sees right through us. He knows us. He sees what’s inside. He knows what is happening in us, with us, and all around us. He knows all the voices of doubt, unbelief, fear, guilt, shame, anger. We may feel like we can’t have our life back. The voices of the day say we need to get back on our beds. Don’t walk! Don’t even try!  

It was the Sabbath, and unlawful to heal on the Sabbath. But the man who was healed took up his bed and walked straight into the temple. The religious men of that day objected. “It is against the law to be healed or carry anything on the Sabbath.”  The man answered, “He that made me whole, (healed) is the same that said unto me, take up your bed, and walk.”             

 John 5:14-16 TPT   14 A short time later, Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, “Look at you now! You’re healed! Walk away from your sin so that nothing worse will happen to you.”  

The word sin here isn’t what we would define as sin-the idea of making bad mistakes. Jesus didn’t want this man to go back to his “old life”.  Jesus didn’t want him to think like he used to think or talk like he used to talk or make excuses like he used to. This man had his life back now. Jesus did not want him to go back to where he came from. Think about it. What things are holding you from getting your life back, being healed, and made whole? 

Sanctioned Love is learning to move and operate in the healing resurrection power of the Lord. We want to be about the Father’s business.

Come with us.

“Beloved children, our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:18‬ TPT

Have you ever taken a moment to think about what it looks like to be intentional? What do you imagine? What kinds of feelings or desires spring up inside of you? Does it make you think about buying your friend a card for no other reason but to send them words of encouragement? Do you think about that coworker who gets on your nerves? Maybe a thoughtful little gift could spur you on to understanding each other better and developing a friendship. How about taking the time every day to sit with God and let Him speak to you, and maybe you don’t say a thing about your needs but let God speak what is on his heart?

Being intentional costs you something. The definition of intentional is something that is done on purpose or deliberately. When you purpose to be intentional, it requires a thoughtful effort on your part. It may not cost you money, but it will require you to give of your time and of yourself. All these examples above require something of you. You may experience a moment of discomfort giving that stinker of a coworker a gift because what if that person rejects your desire to start off on a better foot? Or maybe the card you send to that friend is not reciprocated with a thoughtful response or a thank you?

Being intentional is more important than you think because not being intentional can cost you valuable relationships. When you neglect to take care of the relationships God has entrusted to you, you not only hurt those in front of you, but you start to feel alone. Maybe you feel alone or unseen because people stopped trying because the relationship always felt one-sided. Perhaps you only reach out if you need something from them. They put in all the effort, and you never return that effort. Maybe you seem to always talk about yourself, but you never inquire on how things are going on their side of the fence. Perhaps you randomly fall off the face of the earth for long periods of time. This way of living in a relationship is selfish. You do not get to play the victim if you are self-inflicting this type of pain. You must make a conscious decision to be the friend that you want others to be for you.

So, what has spurred this topic of conversation in my own relationships?

Recently, I took a mini-vacation to get away with God and take a rest period for myself. During one of my quiet times with him, I heard God tell me to take 30 days of being intentional. During these 30 days, God wanted me to get away from all social media and to work on connecting with people through in-person hang-out times, phone calls, encouraging texts and over facetime. He wanted it to be about more than just liking a post on Facebook. He wanted me to get out of my comfort zone, get off my couch, get out of my house and make a genuine effort to find a relational connection. Not only did I feel that making these genuine connections would help me grow closer with my friends, but it would also bring me out of a place of loneliness and disconnection.

During my quiet time with God during my 30 days of fasting social media, he began to speak to me about his heart for other people and would have me pray for them. This caused me to be more intentional with my friends and family. To reach out and send texts, letting them know what I was praying for them. He had me make an effort to spend time with them and be an encouragement. You have to make time for what you want to grow. If you’re going to succeed in being intentional, you have to give up your own wants and desires to create time and space to build relationships with others. A healthy relationship takes time and effort.

Even in this time of social distancing, you can find connections and relationships that are more than superficial conversations or simply sitting next to each other on your phones. I’ve been challenged to put my phone away when I am with others. Not having social media to turn to when I’m bored has caused me to reach out and create conversations with real, live people. I don’t get to fill a void of loneliness or boredom with a fake sense of connection. I have to reach out and find a genuine connection.

Are you intentional in your walk with God and your walk with others? Are you thinking of others or only of yourself? The more intentional you are with God, the more intentional you become with others.

Embrace the season you’re in, thank God for it, and make the most of it.

From a distant place, the clatter of horseshoes on concrete interrupted my sleep. I struggled to come to grips with its meaning.  When the noise dragged me awake, I shot out of bed.  Dashing into the breezeway of the barn, my worst fears were realized. Nubbin had his head stuffed in a grain barrel.  When he heard me, he looked up blinking as if to say “What’s your problem?”  My problem was the possibility of losing him to death or permanent lameness.  

As every horse owner knows, horses love grain, and it’s good for them in small doses.  But their digestive system can’t  handle the large amounts they consume if left to their own devices. Colic and/or a condition called founder, often result.  The effect of the latter is something akin to smashing your thumbnail with a hammer. A carbohydrate overload sends blood rushing to the feet, and it becomes trapped behind the hard-shelled hoof. In extreme cases, horses can no longer walk and have to be put down. Colic, in and of itself isn’t terminal, but the cure a horse seeks is.  Looking for relief, they roll and thrash around on the ground.  This can lead to a twisted intestine which is usually fatal.

So, standing there in the cold barn, I chastised myself for forgetting to properly secure Nubbin’s stall latch.  I sighed, caught my horse, and shut him away from the thing he loved most in that moment. I then, called the vet.  We determined he probably hadn’t gotten enough grain to founder, but to avoid colic, I needed to walk him for a couple of hours. Walking keeps the digestive process moving.  Since it would be half that long until daylight, I rode him, in a lot of small circles, in the pool of fluorescent light just outside the barn. Riding circles is good training for a horse.  Among other things, it teaches them suppleness so they easily give to commands communicated through legs or reins.  But for a rider, especially one bereft of sleep, it can get old fast.

A thin line of silver appeared on the gray horizon, and something besides a new day began to dawn on me. Sometimes in our spiritual and emotional lives we find ourselves in toxic situations like the one facing my horse that morning.  The causes are many. Maybe it was our own lustful appetite, or perhaps, as in my horses case, it was the result of a caretaker’s neglect. Or it could be that we’ve suffered great loss or  have been abused. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: we are sick and in pain.

The temptation is to seek relief, no matter what the price.  Just as a horse with colic wants to roll to help its distress, our pain can lead us to bad decisions, some of which are fatal.  We look for all kinds of escapes—overeating, drugs, alcohol, and bad relationships only start the list. 

But God has another plan.  He wants us to walk it out, with Him in the saddle. He wants to ride through it with us. Our job, is to cling to His every word and keep moving.  Often the only light we have is as dim and small as a fluorescent pool shining down from an outside barn light.  It doesn’t seem like much compared to the vast black night surrounding us, and it’s easy to feel like we aren’t going anywhere.  

The truth is we are going somewhere.  We are going through a process that will free us and make us strong. Whether we choose to walk it out with God, or thrash around on the ground looking for our own solutions, there will be misery and pain.  One pain leads to life, the other to death.  My prayer for you is that you choose life.

“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make the darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.  These things will I do unto them and not forsake them.”–Isaiah 42:16

© 1998 Jean Nelsen