Encountering God Where a Bench Awaited Me

I grabbed my jacket and took off for a much needed walk. The periwinkle sky of November illuminated the remaining red and yellow leaves of fall. Sunshine bathed me in warmth as I labored up the hill to the white clapboard church where a bench awaited me.

I Allowed the Lord to Search My Anxious Thoughts

My mind searched for reassurance and fought the unsettled spirit whispering in my ear. I reached the blessed bench. Sitting down, I rested my elbows on my knees, cupping my face in my hands. A frustrated tear trickled down my cheek as I allowed the Lord to search my anxious thoughts.

I thought of the psalmist David when he accosted the Lord with his honesty, “How long, O Lord? How long will you forget me?” *

I thought about Isaiah’s dealings with rebellious people, how even in their godlessness, the Lord Himself pursued them with relentless love.

There is a thread of hope and promise for the faithful remnant of God’s people throughout this favorite book of mine.

God used Isaiah to minister to me on that day of anxiety as the nation I love struggles to breathe, and the demented man I love struggles to process life. I pray it will steady your heart also:

²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and His understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV

So, my friend, I’ll ask you the same question God asked me: “Have you not known? Have You not heard? The everlasting God, your Creator, never grows weary, His understanding is unsearchable, and He promises to give strength to the weary!”

On That Rusty Old Bench God Spoke

As the sunlight warmed my face on that rusty old bench, I smiled. I recognized my mistake. In the midst of this indescribable chaos, I had taken my eyes off the Lord and turned inward for my strength.

I had failed to wait on Him — to look for, expect, and hope in HIM.

When we are faithful to wait upon the Lord, our strength will be renewed and our spirit will take on the wings of eagles to rise into the heavens with Him, high above the whirlwind.

Selah

*Psalm 13:1

*****************************************************

Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.

Sweet blessings to you,