Out of the Comfort Zone and Into the Fire

I sing it:

"I'll praise you in this storm,
And I will lift my hands..."

"You give and take away, You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say: Lord, Blessed be Your Name."

I quote it:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I blog it:

Lord, I confess that I don't want to lose a leg or all my teeth, heck I don't even want to have a hair out of place. But I do want what he has: joy; peace; boldness; and blessedness...so whatever it takes Lord, whatever it takes.

So I guess I don't really have any new resolutions this year. Just to keep cooperating with the Master Weaver and allow myself to become the tapestry He desires to create.

Talkin' the talk while I'm cruising along down an easy road. Minor bumps in the pavement, nothing major. Wind at my back, sun on my face, ipod playing a worshipful tune. Life is good, I've got a few plans, some minor goals, good friends, good Bible Study, sweet family. Talkin' the talk - ministering to others who've got it worse. Praying for friends through crisis - thinking "Yes, I've been there Lord. Praise You that I'm not there now..."

Suddenly the road I'm on takes a sharp left turn. Nothing looks familar - like being in a white-out blizzard, I can no longer see 3 feet in front of me. Am I even on the road?

"Lord, are You there because I can no longer see where I'm going? I thought we were going down that other road over there...you know the safe road, the familar road, the comfortable, sunshiny road, the road where I could SEE WHERE I WAS GOING!"

He says, "Trust Me."

I say, "Yes, I trust You Lord but, um, I can't see the road."

He says, "Hold my hand."

I say, "I'll grip it tightly but, um, I can't see where You are leading me."

He says, "Do you believe all that stuff you've been singing, quoting, and blogging about?"

"Yes, Lord, but it's much more comfortable to have it in my head to share with others when they are hurting than to have to put it into practice for myself."

He says, "In order to go where I am taking you, you have to put it into practice. You have to trust Me, believe Me, and cling to My Word when you can't see the road ahead."

"This is scary, Lord, but I see how You've led me through uncharted territory before. I'm ashamed at how freaked out I was most of the time. I'll try to handle this like a big girl."

He asks, "What's that song you've been singing lately?"

"How Firm a Foundation."

"Am I your foundation?"

"Yes, Lord, you are."

"Sing it..."

"Okay...

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake."

(John Keith, 1787; Public Domain)