Dementia is full of unknowns and difficult places. I know this. But I need not be afraid because the Lord goes before us.
Still … I walked to maintain my sanity and turn my focus on Him.
I rounded the curve that ribboned past the church on the hillside, the one founded in 1887. It had been blistering hot — dry enough to cause our lush mountain meadows to crunch underfoot.
In His Great Love, The Lord Goes Before Us
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I welcomed a stiff breeze that cooled the sweltering heat. While rejoicing in the refreshing wind, I walked on through the canopy of trees and looked up. On the horizon were dark, ominous storm clouds moving into our mountain community.
The wind, a precursor to the storm.
Stirring began in my spirit.
I stopped to listen.
What is it, Lord? What are You showing me?
As I stood there soaking in the cool breeze, Deuteronomy 31:8 came to mind:
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
There on the side of a country road I stared at the approaching storm clouds and I pondered the wind.
I know the Lord walks on the wings of the wind (Psalm 104:3, 2 Samuel 22:11, Psalm 18:10), I know His Spirit often comes like a mighty rushing wind (Acts 2:2), and the Lord brings forth the wind from His treasures (Psalm 135:7).
The wind always reminds me of His precious Spirit and His welcomed presence.
And now He is showing me the wind in light of the approaching storm …
Show me, Lord. Teach me Your ways.
And then like a snap of the fingers, I saw it.
The Lord Goes Before Us So We Will Not Be Afraid
The Lord goes before us so that we will not be afraid. He is with us.
He is aware of the storms we will encounter long before we are and therefore He goes ahead of us — to the place of difficulty, to that place of sorrow, to that place of gut-wrenching pain — He goes before us to wait for us there, arms wide open to receive His hurting child.
The wind is the precursor to the storm.
The Lord our God is like the wind rushing ahead so we won’t endure the pain alone.
Joy rose within me in that moment as I knew I had encountered the Lord’s great love once again. My steps quickened while the dark clouds began to hover overhead.
But I wasn’t alone. A strong wind ushered me down the road to home.
Selah
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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,
I needed this so much today, Nan! A storm has divided my sisters and so like North and South. I see no hope for reconciliation. It’s so good to be reminded that God is already there!
I have read that in Genesis, when the Bible says God walked and talked with Adam and Eve, that He spoke to them through the wind or breeze. It makes so much sense to me that the Holy Spirit would be the One in the wind around us. What a beautiful, comforting reminder. Thank you sweet sister <3