Good morning, friends. As I sit to write this morning, I must confess that my mind is all over the place. After being gone for the past week, there are many things screaming for my attention. My to-do list is long and daunting today. But I did want to take just a minute to share with you a particular lesson the Lord impressed upon my heart this past week.
We were blessed to be in Amsterdam, Holland, the Netherlands for six days and nights. It is a beautiful city, full of history and grandeur. We barely scratched the surface of things to do and see there. But one thing that was not so pleasant was the traffic, the noise, and the crowds.
It was a very busy week in Holland. The beautiful Keukenhof Gardens, located not too far out of the city, are only open two months out of the year, (mid-March to mid-May, I think) when the tulips are blooming, so there were a lot of tourists in country last week. One of the primary means of transportation around the city is biking. The many cyclists made crossing the street very interesting. The bikers don’t always follow the traffic signals, so it can actually be quite dangerous if you aren’t careful.
One particular afternoon, it was breezy and my hair kept blowing across my eyes, making it difficult to see as we approached an intersection. I finally just grabbed Steve’s hand and said,
“I am not looking anymore. I am just trusting you to get me safely across. I am so confused! I don’t know which way to look, which obstacle to avoid, which danger is heading my way- bikes, cars, cable cars! So, I am just trusting you!”
As I thought about that, it occurred to me that that is a picture of this often crazy, confusing, and sometimes dangerous life we lead. Sometimes our vision is obscured and we cannot see to make “safe” decisions and right choices. But God says to us (in effect),
“Hold my hand. Trust me. Let me see you safely through to the other side. I know the way. I know the hazards to avoid. I know the dangers that may come. I can get you through those and keep you moving in the right direction.”
This was such a good lesson for me, especially this week. If any of you follow our son and daughter-in-law’s Facebook page, Hopefully Autismistic, where they share updates on the road they are on with our special needs grandson, Jackson, you may have seen our son’s post this week where he shared with gripping honesty the struggles they face and Jackson faces on a daily basis. Frankly, it broke my heart to read it, but it also was encouraging to see that he ended the post with the words from the MercyMe song, Even If.
It encouraged my heart to know that Kevin and Ashley are hanging on to the only One who can see them safely through to the other side of this road. They are holding on to their Savior’s hands and trusting him with all their might. Some days are harder than others. So, the good news is that their Savior is holding on to them, when they are weak and can’t hold on themselves. Isn’t that what trust is all about? Holding on. Letting go of our own strength. Believing in the dark the truths we have learned in the light:
- God is good and what He does is good ( Psalm 119:68).
- He is an ever-present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1).
- He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). He will never forget us (Isaiah 49:15).
- He knows how we are formed. He remembers we are dust (Psalm 103:14).
- He will fulfill His purpose in our lives (Psalm 138:8).
He is with us through all the “traffic” and the “noise”. He holds our hands and sees us safely through. Oh, what peace we can experience when we truly latch on to those truths. Trust in the Lord this day. He’s got you and He won’t let go!
