I walked in the door, dropped my bag and called upstairs to my husband, “Want to take a walk?”
Shockingly, he did. He wanted to enjoy the spontaneous burst of warm weather that was gracing our air. We put on our shoes and headed out. I had no idea I was about to be graced with his wisdom too.
We headed down a forest laden trail. It was beautiful.
“Kelly, I wonder what is up there, beyond that bend?”
I already knew, I’d walked the trail time and time again.
He went on, “I think God says, we don’t have to know what is beyond our bends. We don’t have to see what is up ahead. We just have to walk with him in the moment, knowing he is up there already. He is already where we are headed. And, that’s all we need to know. We are free to enjoy the purple flowers, the flying birds and the moving clouds. We can simply trust he has what we are walking into.”
I knew I married this guy for a reason.
I nodded my head in agreement. “Yep,” I said, ” because if we are so caught up with what we can’t see, we’ll miss what we can. Plus, once we get to that bend, we will want to know, yet again, what is beyond the next one. It’s a losing battle.”
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb. 11:1
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you… (Deut. 31:8)
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Mt. 6:34)
Often, I am so caught up in what’s coming, I miss the table of beauty God has laid in front of me today. I don’t partake in what is good. I fear what is bad. I adjust my shirt just right so my stomach bulges don’t stand out too much. I grip onto tight schedules so I have a handy excuse for social situations I am terrified of. I cling on to my kids hand with a death grip, hoping the doesn’t stray to far away from mom if I let go. I rush through breakfast and traffic lights and pajamas trying to my couch and TV.
But, my husband reminds me – I don’t have to hold on to what is up ahead – or fear it – for God is already there. It’s like he rushed ahead and set the table in advance, so when I arrive, the goodness awaits. Sure, sometimes it might look like the table is empty or it’s not as I thought, but as I am present with him, in the moment, he always surfaces some sort of surprise party. His spiritual blessings all jump out at me and I leap for joy. I realize, “Wow God, what I really wanted is right here.”
And, friend, what you want is right before you. For what is before you, in this moment, is your God. He is with you and will not let you go. Keep walking with him, no matter how good, how bad or how ugly your trail looks. For, you never know, when you might stumble you upon your – surprise party!
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Is. 41:10
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Oh I love this: “When we are so caught up in what we cannot see, we’ll miss what we can.” Yes, He is with us, and He goes before us.
What would we ever do without “husband-ly” wisdom? Thanks for sharing that conversation, and then your thoughts that followed. Blessings to you!
You do have a wise hubby Kelly! It’s that whole ‘Learning to Lean’ process like the girl in Songs of Solomon 8:5. Not easy, but once we get it we walk in peace. I prefer peace 🙂 Have a great day!
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Girl, God has a way of speaking such honest truth through you. I’m right there with you, Kelly, especially w/this sentence: “I adjust my shirt just right so my stomach bulges don’t stand out too much.” Me too!!! In fact, that WHOLE PARAGRAPH had me raising my hand. Oh, but God…. Love the verses and hope they bring. PS 94:19 is where I’m perched this morning. xo
I love your conversation you had with your husband. It’s so true!
And that “You prepare a table before me…surely goodness (awaits), where have I heard that before? Psalm 23? Amen! “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Even the ones that are still around the bend.
Thanks for this.
Great post – great words, great husband! (:
Part of God’s ultimate hosting is that He’s got the table already set – but, like you I often can’t enjoy the meal from worrying or wondering what the next one will be. Mealing planning can be overrated! Ha.Staying in the present often escapes me and I’m old and should know better. Getting better, tho! Blessings, Kelly – you’re doing a great job.
Kelly, I loved this post. It’s so true. God has given us good right here, in this moment. If we’re too busy looking up ahead at the next bend in the trail, we’re going to miss the good He has for us in the now. We’re going to miss the sense of His presence, His peace, and His joy.
Now, to find a way to help one of my kids facing a scary situation understand this. 🙂
I love Isaiah’s Words there, Kelly. I love that He is always with us and we don’t HAVE to fear. I thought about you this morning and your chapter on Control… I thought about the way you have prayed for all who read your words and have spilled such grace in them. I need to go back and re-read that chapter because my heart gave in to a whole heaping lot of fear last night and this morning and it took a missed notebook and a waylaid trip to go back and get it so I could teach my class …getting quiet with Jesus one on one… to help me let go of that burden that was threatening to strangle peace. Thanks for being so willing to share.
Blessings!
Dawn
It is all too easy for me to forget that God is with me just as He goes before me. It’s hard for us to fully understand how He can be in our present and our future just as He’s healing our past. While I try to understand more, I am so grateful for your reminder today!
Kelly, your husband’s words are so pertinent to my husband and me these days. I just read them to him and we both agree that one step, one day, one anything at a time knowing that God is right around that bend with just what we need. Beautiful and timely.
Kelly,
What great advice from your husband, your post, and from Scripture. Thank you 🙂
Many husbands are better at really contemplating and meditating on the simple, yet profound, truths of the Bible. I know mine is. Perhaps, we have gotten too good at multi-tasking and trying to be efficient that we neglect making time to just think! Thanks for sharing your husband’s wisdom with us! Thanks, too, for hosting!
Yup … guilty! I’m so busy looking to the next thing I have to get done or the next goal on the horizon, I fail to notice, much less celebrate the blessing in the here and now! Thanks for the reminder, Kelly♥
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
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