Strength to Strength

When the questions flood my soul.

When your ways are higher than my ways.

Will I still trust?
Will I still hope?
Will I still remember that you have a purpose? That I am not alone?

Growing up I dreamed about this time of my life. In my childhood dreams I was here, but I was not alone. I was a wife, a mother.

This journey He has chosen for me is different than what I had wanted.

I ask, "Is this truly good?"

A hand is extended to me. A strong, rough hand. A nail pierced hand.

A voice is asking, "Are you going to trust me? Are you going to take my hand and let me show you the beauty in this wilderness? Are you going to choose to see the beauty in this wilderness?"

"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?"
Isaiah 43:18

Avoiding His eyes, I slip my hand in His. He draws me into His arms and I am overwhelmed with the scent of His sweetness. Gently He places his hand under my chin and draws my chin up, forcing my eyes to meet His own. All of the sudden I feel vulnerable. His eyes pierce through my heart and shoot through my soul. Every part of my being is before Him. I am known. Really known.

"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins." ~Isaiah 43:25

Knowing my thoughts, He whispers, "You, my precious daughter. You whom I called from the far ends of the earth, whom I have loved with an everlasting love. You, for whom I endured the cross, you are forgiven. You are mine."

"Since you were precious and honored, and I have loved you; therefore, I will give men for you and people for your life. Fear not for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west...bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth--everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory." ~Isaiah 43:4-7

Quietly He leads me on through the desert. In a dry and weary land my parched soul begins to feel quenched. My rumbling soul is quieted by His goodness.

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness." ~Psalm 107:9

I blink once, then twice, hardly able to believe my eyes. A stream! Green grass. I run forward, then stop and look back at him. Nodding his head, he smiles.

"...Because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare my praise." Isaiah 43:20-21

I'm still in the wilderness, but I'm not alone. My precious Savior has provided me with a place of rest, peace, and joy in the wilderness.

Looking back, the journey has been hard. Looking forward, the journey won't be easy.

But, the One I love so deeply never did promise an easy journey.

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." ~Romans 8:16-17

Instead, He promised strength for today and great hope for tomorrow.

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion." ~Psalm 84:5-7