19 days: 19 steps and I never thought we would walk this road this long.
But my direction remains clear: 'I have Decided to Follow Jesus'.
His timing continues impeccable: simply one step after another as He leads and I trust that as I take the next step open before me, He will reveal tomorrow in His time.
When I battled malaria years ago, His Spirit confirmed His Word:
'I will never leave you nor forsake you’ and the feverish sickness subsided.
He was true to His Word then, why should He not be now again?
Our walk is by faith, not natural sight; otherwise fearful circumstances, evil reports + confusion would rule.
I recently read an article debunking nice religious-sounding phrases, not truth found in God's Word; well-meaning but lifeless clichés such as: 'God never gives you more than you can handle.'
Sounds good, eh?
But I find myself now crying out, 'This is more than I can handle!'
Intended as a paraphrase of 1Cor 10:13, the article emphasized this Scripture’s context was dealing with temptation, not everyday trials. In other words, believers have ability to handle lusts + temptations. That may be, but that explanation hangs too much on theological hair-splitting for me; I need more of a sword to cut right through the whelming confusion at hand. Differentiating between tests + temptations neither brings clarity and peace to my heart, nor Erica back home.
Erica’s trail has again gone cold. The police have no further tips, leads, or tracks to follow. The 12-second video surveillance footage from the day she disappeared over two weeks ago is our last visible evidence of her whereabouts. This reality is more pain than I can bear. 'I cannot handle this!'
But God has shown me: it's not about how much or how well I can handle.
I am ‘hard pressed, but not crushed; struck down, but not destroyed,’ and in this my brokenness, it is ‘Christ in me’ who ever shines and carries me through.
I cannot do or handle all things, let alone shoulder these things, this weight and burden of loss I feel.
This is impossible for me. But it is possible for God. + Jesus bids me to:
‘Cast all my care on Him for He cares for me.
‘Take His yoke, exchange my burden, and let His Cross + Resurrection be mine through this time.
It's not about my ability to carry this great weight, but about Him carrying me.
I am not sufficient, but His grace is.
He alone 'bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.'
The 'Footprints' poem has taken on a whole new dimension of meaning for the Schmidt family.
'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’
Alone I cannot, but Christ within me not only can, but does + will.
One more step, one more day at a time, following His steps, and He will yet bring this journey into revelation.
Thank you for walking this Emmaus Road with us; we are moving into His next glory.
But my direction remains clear: 'I have Decided to Follow Jesus'.
His timing continues impeccable: simply one step after another as He leads and I trust that as I take the next step open before me, He will reveal tomorrow in His time.
When I battled malaria years ago, His Spirit confirmed His Word:
'I will never leave you nor forsake you’ and the feverish sickness subsided.
He was true to His Word then, why should He not be now again?
Our walk is by faith, not natural sight; otherwise fearful circumstances, evil reports + confusion would rule.
I recently read an article debunking nice religious-sounding phrases, not truth found in God's Word; well-meaning but lifeless clichés such as: 'God never gives you more than you can handle.'
Sounds good, eh?
But I find myself now crying out, 'This is more than I can handle!'
Intended as a paraphrase of 1Cor 10:13, the article emphasized this Scripture’s context was dealing with temptation, not everyday trials. In other words, believers have ability to handle lusts + temptations. That may be, but that explanation hangs too much on theological hair-splitting for me; I need more of a sword to cut right through the whelming confusion at hand. Differentiating between tests + temptations neither brings clarity and peace to my heart, nor Erica back home.
Erica’s trail has again gone cold. The police have no further tips, leads, or tracks to follow. The 12-second video surveillance footage from the day she disappeared over two weeks ago is our last visible evidence of her whereabouts. This reality is more pain than I can bear. 'I cannot handle this!'
But God has shown me: it's not about how much or how well I can handle.
I am ‘hard pressed, but not crushed; struck down, but not destroyed,’ and in this my brokenness, it is ‘Christ in me’ who ever shines and carries me through.
I cannot do or handle all things, let alone shoulder these things, this weight and burden of loss I feel.
This is impossible for me. But it is possible for God. + Jesus bids me to:
‘Cast all my care on Him for He cares for me.
‘Take His yoke, exchange my burden, and let His Cross + Resurrection be mine through this time.
It's not about my ability to carry this great weight, but about Him carrying me.
I am not sufficient, but His grace is.
He alone 'bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.'
The 'Footprints' poem has taken on a whole new dimension of meaning for the Schmidt family.
'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’
Alone I cannot, but Christ within me not only can, but does + will.
One more step, one more day at a time, following His steps, and He will yet bring this journey into revelation.
Thank you for walking this Emmaus Road with us; we are moving into His next glory.
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