He is not the safest sailor who never saw a tempest;
he will do for fair-weather service, but when the storm is rising,
place at the important post the man who has fought out a gale,
who has tested the ship,
who knows her hulk sound,
her rigging strong,
and her anchor-flukes able to grasp and hold by the ribs of the world.
~excerpt Streams in the Desert
My friend, if you are sailing through a storm, be assured that your Saviour is strong, His grip is sure and He will sail with you through this tempest to bring you safely to the other shore.
There are times in life when God calls on us to do the hardest thing possible.
And often, that hardest thing is…nothing.
Just wait.
Stand still. Be ready. Have your armor on. Grasp your Sword in readiness.
And do nothing.
Just wait.
See what God will show you.
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. ~Exodus 14:13
It’s hard to do. We want to grasp the problem by its horns and wrestle it to the ground.
But often, God says, “Wait. I will do the work for you. I will get the glory. Your strength cannot do this work. Only Mine.”
I encourage you, today, friend. Be ready to do whatever God asks of you…gird your loins, put on your breastplate, have the Sword ready. But if God says “Wait,” then do that to the best of your ability.
In times of uncertainty, wait. Always, if you have any doubt, wait. Do not force yourself to any action. If you have a restraint in your spirit, wait until all is clear, and do not go against it. ~excerpt Streams in the Desert
Praying you will see a mighty victory as you stand still and see what God will do today.
“Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires…” Isaiah 24:15
The Lord told the Israelites to glorify Him IN the fires. Not afterwards, when the pain had been removed. Not when they realized the stench of the smoke didn’t even permeate their clothes. Not even when they secured greater blessings after the fire.
But IN the fire. Right in the midst of the heat and pain and soul-searing agony of burning under the raging fire of tribulation.
There. Right there. Before deliverance comes.
Praise Him.
Glorify Him.
God-Kept Wonder
Let the world see the God-kept Wonder that He is molding you to be!
We may feel like we’re drowning, just like those who don’t know Christ. But we must remember…our Deliverer walks on those waves!
Just a-wearying for you,
Jesus, Lord, beloved and true;
Wishing for you, wondering when
You’ll be coming back again,
Under all I say and do,
Just a-wearying for you.
Some glad day, all watching past,
You will come for me at last;
Then I’ll see you, hear your voice,
Be with you, with you rejoice;
How the sweet hope thrills me through,
Sets me wearying for you. ~ excerpt Streams in the Desert
Some days, we just miss Jesus, wish we could see Him, have Him hug us, make everything all better. On those days, the blessed Hope of His soon return keeps us going.
Until that day, though, I think it must please the Lord for our heart to yearn for Him. I think it’s ok to miss Him a bit.
I believe the missing Him just makes the hope of Heaven so much sweeter to us. And every loved one who leaves us here makes us long to go even more. Heaven becomes a reality to us. A real place. A real future. And something for which we long.
And of course, the Person of that Place, the Redeemer of our souls, the Prince of our Peace will be there, and He will be what makes it “Heaven” to us.
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. ~Psalm 84:2
And one day, our faith will be made sight:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. ~ Revelation 21:1-6
Until that great day, let’s keep our eyes fixed on the One we long to meet,
Obtaining Mercy 