The Non-Blogger Returns

(posted by Ang)

Perhaps it's the new year or --more likely --perhaps it's the fact that both my dear daughters are taking a morning nap, for the first time EVER both asleep at the same time in the morning. (Amelia is sick with the stomach flu, hence the morning nap.)

So I found myself composing, for the upteenth time, a blog in my head after enjoying a little quiet time and prayer after putting Addy to bed. If you faithful bloggers only knew how many blogs I've composed in my head since the creation of this blog that never make it to the keyboard, or, if they do make it past the keyboard they never get into the "publish post" phase. When I do have the luxury of time to sit down and pen my thoughts, I usually turn to journaling in a private journal, as I've done for as long as I can remember since I learned how to write. The difference there is HUGE -no need to worry about my grammar or spell-checking or wondering if every little word I say will be analyzed by someone I don't even know. (Yeah, I think way too much about these things! Hence, the blog once every two years...sometimes!)

Okay, so the real impetus for me posting this morning is really that I read a WONDERFUL devotion and wanted to share it! Emailing is sooo five years ago, I'm told, so I'm posting it here. Read it, don't read it--your call. But whatever you decide, you can thank me later for not cluttering your email inbox. ;-)

Before getting to the meat of the post, a little background...over our Christmas vacation which we spent with Danny's folks, we had the privilege of being part of their church fellowship on Sunday. They participate in a home church with several other families and enjoy an intimate time of worship, prayer, and studying the Word. It's a wonderful and beautiful way of "doing church," and we always enjoy the opportunity to be there for this time. Anyway, during the sharing time, one of the ladies shared a testimony of God's faithfulness in the recent trials of her life and mentioned how He had used, specifically, Isaiah 43:2 to give her hope and peace. I would say "ironically," but I believe it's much more accurate to say that providentially, when I turned to one of my favorite devotionals this morning (entitled Streams in the Desert, if you're interested), the reading for today was based on that very text. After a long weekend spent taking care of a sick daughter and husband and getting very little sleep (about 2-1/2 hours in a 48-hour period which is still EXTREMELY difficult for me despite my experience with sleep-deprivation), I was REALLY encouraged by this and hope you will be too!

"When thou passest through the waters....they shall not overflow thee." Isaiah 43:2

God does not open paths for us in advance of our coming. He does not promise help before help is needed. He does not remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them. Yet when we are on the edge of our need, God's hand is stretched out.

Many people forget this, and are forever worrying about difficulties which they foresee in the future. They expect that God is going to make the way plain and open before them, miles and miles ahead; whereas He has promised to do it only step by step as they may need. You must get to the waters and into their floods before you can claim the promise. Many people dread death, and lament that they have not "dying grace." Of course, they will not have dying grace when they are in good health, in the midst of life's duties, with death far in advance. Why should they have it then? Grace for duty is what they need then, living grace; they will have dying grace when they come to die. J.R.M.

"When thou passest through the waters"
Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehovah is our refuge,
And His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself hath said it,
He, the faithful God and true:
"When thou comest to the waters
Thou shalt not go down, BUT THROUGH."

Sea of sorry, seas of trial,
Bitterest anguish, fiercest pain,
Rolling surges of temptation
Sweeping over heart and brain--
They shall never overflow us
For we know His word is true;
All His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely through.

Threatening breakers of destruction
Doubt's insidious undertow,
Shall not sink us, shall not drag us
Out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise shall sustain us,
Praise the lord, whose Word is true!
We shall not go down, or under,
For He saith, "Thou passest THROUGH."

Annie Johnson Flint.