31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes
“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'” Exodus 33:14 (NIV)
Day 1: Way
Just down the road from my house, majestically rising from the ground, are the Seneca Rocks. Rock climbers from all over the world come to ascend their sheer fins. They can often be seen standing on the very top, silhouetted against the backdrop of only the sky. I want to make it clear, I am NOT one of them!
Thankfully, there’s another route to enjoying the view from the heights of the rocks, one designed for non-climbers like me. Many years ago I took that trail with our church youth group and while the path is easily navigated, I found the steep slope and my lack of physical fitness challenging. At the same time that I was huffing and puffing, one of our youth who had physical limitations declared she needed to rest. I knew there was NO WAY I was going to make it without stopping, so I “generously” offered to stay back with her and continue on when she was ready. And that’s what we did together: climb a bit, rest a bit, go a bit further, sit for a few minutes, start again, and then pause until we finally conquered what we didn’t think we could.
This story is a good reminder for all of us that the same is true in life. We will face many challenges and some will leave us feeling as if there is NO WAY we can make it to the end. The thing is, we don’t have to push through on our own huffing and puffing under the weight of it all.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’”
Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
We all know that standing in the valley looking up at the mountaintop can feel overwhelming. The weight of our circumstance makes taking another step, let alone a step up, seem impossible. That’s when Jesus generously sits with us, offering rest when we need it the most. While still difficult, the journey becomes doable by uniting with Him, sharing the load of our worries, anxiety, grief, or whatever we face. Together, we climb a bit and rest in Him, make it a bit further and sit with Him, begin again and wait with Him until we conquer what we didn’t think we could. Where to us, there seemed to be NO WAY, He doesn’t just make one, He IS the One!
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’”
John 14:6a (NLT)
#myseaofthought #31days2022 #fiveminutefriday #viewfrommylens
And just like that, you articulate my feelings so well. I have to remember that there is a way to peace.
feeling as if there is NO WAY we can make it to the end. The thing is, we don’t have to push through on our own huffing and puffing under the weight of it all.