Today in church, prior to the message even, there was an opportunity for solitude and prayer. This morning, as I was praying for a friend in great need of God’s grace and mercy, the tears just dropped from my eyes directly onto my church bulletin. Even when I shifted to praying for another person who needs God to move in his life in a huge, unmistakable way, the tears continued. The kind of tears that you silently will to stop but fall freely despite our best intentions. It isn’t the first time that my prayers have resulted in raw emotion and it’s likely not going to be the last.
How blessed are we that can go to Him and lay our heartbreaks, concerns, needs and failings right at the foot of the cross? I am blown away by the privilege.
And I find myself blown away by those who choose not to. I know what it is to carry around the weight of life and the tolls of our troubles without ever seeking God in a serious way. I know all too well how short that life falls when compared to this one.
As I write this hours after this morning’s church service and the day that transpired, I know God has done something in my heart the last couple of weeks. There is a settling and sudden shift in my soul~ where just days ago I could tolerate things that offend me, today I can’t seem to tolerate those same things because they offend HIM. Does that even make sense? To some, I know it does. To others, it makes no sense at all.
When we surrender~ truly surrender~ God moves fast. This I now know; God will move at the pace we set for Him. Crawlers will experience Christ in baby steps. If you are a walker, He will meet you right there and walk with you but if you are sprinting, you’d better learn to keep up with His pace.
So here I am, running and out of breath. And grateful. And, yes, somewhat sad that those I love aren’t running beside me, too. I want to duck into an alley and wait for them to catch up before I run any further away…but that would mean that separation would happen between God and I…so I can’t slow down or stop~ not even for them.
This is so difficult to articulate and I’m sure I’m not doing it well.
I leave you with this. Anything I would ever write just pales…
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Be blessed,
Amy
Beautiful Amy!!!! This recently happened to me! Those tears are such a cleansing rain, the ones that keep sliding down our cheeks without all that “I cannot breathe stuff”, Thank you my friend! Just the encouragement I needed! Hugs