Wanted to share a page of my journal from the Winter of 2005. A little bit of the backdrop here…I was in the middle of going through divorce and these words are my reflections of a journey I took into the unknown.

Darkness rules the heart of man until the light of Jesus Christ shines upon him.

That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. -Romans 8:28

The long cold winter of this lonely and difficult journey is slowly coming an end, where the springtime of the Lord will restore creation back to life. As God allows me to see glimpses of this restoration throughout His creation, I’m blessed with a vision that He’s about to make all things new in my life.

I was led into the wintry depths of the forest on this brisk Sunday. For some time, I could not escape the vision of the lake I stumbled upon in my adventures last summer. I also knew that a milestone of this vision was finding a stone along the shores of the lake. Not remembering how far away the lake was, I instinctively set out to once again to stand at its shores, wondering what “stone” I would need to hunt for.

The day was grey and bitter cold as I set off on my journey into the depths of the forest. Loosing site of where I began my journey, the icy cold fingers of loneliness began closing in around me. So much so, that I began thinking this vision was something I just fabricated in my mind. I somehow found, or was given, the endurance to press on.

My heart began to beat faster as the lake came into focus, revealing the only stone you could see in this snow-covered landscape. I knew I arrived, but was clueless on what I was supposed to do next.

Lost in this postcard scene I stepped into, I began to read my bible waiting for something to happen. Nothing. So, I began to pray and still nothing. I hung around in the cold for a bit and soon started wondering what I was doing out here in the middle of nowhere…on this bitter cold winter day.

Feeling defeated and thinking this was a dumb idea, I started to head back. As doubt began to invade the scene that He was quietly revealing to me, a strong wind came out of nowhere on this eerie windless day, catching my attention. Turning around, I walked back to the stone and the vision exploded before me as I caught a glimpse of the other side of the lake. What I thought was so unreachable and distant, was so clearly right in front of me! The hurt, pain, emptiness and darkness of this divorce began to fade away as I knew He was going to make all things new.

I could hear Him whisper to my heart, “I have watched you looking up from the raging waters of this journey, so sure that your only hope lies somewhere on the other side. You continue to see and hear the enemy that’s closing in around you. I know that you feel alone and I know that you don’t have the strength to fight, so I ask you this one question. Do you have the faith to stand and to trust Me?”

Holding tight to the words of my devotional that day, I knew that this experience was real.

Move forward with the great assurance that I am with you. There is nothing that concerns your life that I am not aware of, and as you yield yourself to Me in complete trust, I will take you from faith to faith, glory to glory and victory to victory. Do not be afraid, for I will never leave you nor forsake you. I go before you to make crooked places straight, and I am also your rear guard. I will enable you to face every obstacle with confidence and boldness, and I will cause you to overcome, says the Lord.

Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. GOD, your God, is with you every step you take.” -Joshua 1:9

Leading me into a new season, I began seeing through the eyes of this ‘little boy’ who now runs into the reassuring arms of Abba Father. Safe and secure in His arms, He whispers… “I am with you!”

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” -Romans 8:15

I now see the circumstances around me in a whole new light. With His leading, He begins to move me out of my comfort zone as I begin to walk more by faith and not by sight. The day is coming soon when Jesus Christ will return in all His glory, but until that day here is my prayer…

Heavenly Father, let the world see Your Kingdom come in me! Let Your will be done in me! I lay down my life to You and I offer myself up as a living sacrifice; completely and unreservedly in every area of my life. With the power of Your Holy Spirit, show Your glory to the world through me and tell Your story to the world through me. Let everyone around me see Your Son, Jesus Christ in me! Let my life shine for you! Keep me humble and bless me with a servant’s heart! In the awesome name of Jesus, Amen.

Plain and simple…Jesus is life!