Peace in the darkness

A tribe of American Indians had a rather unique practice for training their young braves. On the night of the boy’s thirteenth birthday, he was blindfolded and taken miles away from his home. When the blindfold was taken off, he was in the midst of very thick woods, left to stay there all night by himself.   Each time a twig snapped or animal howled there would be the thought that he could be attacked by a wild animal.

After what seemed like an eternity, the crack of dawn would come and the young man would begin to see flowers, trees, and the outline of the path. Then to his utter amazement, he would see the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with bow and arrow !  It would be the boy’s father, who’d been there all night !!

What an apt illustration of how it is with us too as God’s child.  As we sit in the darkness of this old world, unable to visibly see the Lord, He is there.  As the “twigs snap” around us and we wonder whats lurking for us next, God is there !  As the wind howls masking what’s also there and we wonder still what dangers abound for us, God is watching over us with His mighty bow too protecting and caring for His own Whom He dearly loves and died for. A verse I often quote from the minor prophets comes to mind, “. . . he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.” (Zech.2:8).   He is the perfect Father and you his beloved child, even when we stray and fear rather than trust.   But know that He is always there and always cares.

Do you feel alone, fearful, worrisome?  Life here can indeed be scary at times but what will see us through is “seeing” He is there. The presence of God is often what the Lord alluded to when He knew the disciples would be prone to great fear (“lo, I am with you alway,  Mt.28:20) and the Lord also spoke of this fact to Joshua prior to his conquest of the promised land in Joshua 1.  “. . . be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” (vs.9).     This is where we exercise our faith, you cannot see Him yet in the darkness but He’s there and one day, one day the light will dawn and you will see Him face to face and realize fully, no need for alarm at all !!