“The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.”
“He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.” Psalm 37:23-25a; 40:2
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
God designed time to be gradual and continuous, and life to be lived step by step. His children do not turn immediately from young to old, immature to mature, weak to strong, ignorant to full of knowledge. They do not proceed through years in a straight line or on a smooth path. The Lord marks out our ways with potholes, inclines, setbacks, and detours because He knows who He wants us to be. He nourishes us and trains us along the way, walking hand in hand with His own as we keep in step with His Spirit. His promises of constant companionship and help spur us on in the rhythms of devotion and faith.
But it’s hard when we slip. It’s painful when we trip. It’s difficult when we have to climb and the slope is steep and the scrabble loose and we’re weary. But those are the moments we press hard into God’s side and cling to His hand. Those are times we feel His breath and hear His voice.
In what situations do we feel desperate? Where are we breathing hard with fury, confusion, or fatigue? Would we sidle up to our Savior, grasp His hand, and keep walking forward one trusting step at a time? He never fails to walk beside. (Psalm 23:1-4)
“Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
‘As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,’
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand.” ~Lina Sandell ((1865)
So be it, Lord, Amen.
As the rain and snow 