WATCHWORD:
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 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 40:1-2
“’Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:10-11
Meditation:
God Willing
It was something I read, that triggered something else I read somewhere, or simply had thought. The first was a sentence, maybe from a Hemingway novel that for some reason stuck in my mind. A sentence like – “He was awake a long time before he remembered his heart was broken”. It wasn’t the “heart-broken” part, it was the time interval between wakefulness and awareness of mind, and surroundings that triggered the second thing, a second thought.
For some period of years, I kept a notebook beside my bed to jot down thoughts that occur to me before they slip away, forgotten. Little snippets of ideas that might not have any bearing on anything that I was working on, but I never knew where they might lead.
That little interval, a pause in my thinking, has intrigued me. Each one of us has a place within our inner being that speaks to us, from time to time. For some, it’s the conscience. For people of faith, it’s the spirit, the Holy Spirit, that is gifted to us at the start. I have known others who have named that voice within, as if it was tame-able, like a built-in pet, or the echo of a parent, long-departed reminding us of how good their fried chicken was or the potato salad.
There is a little phrase, a two-word prayer-like statement that is actually a teaching of Orthodox Judaism, connected to the idea that one does not make a promise or a plan without stating, God willing. I like that. It’s like I’m saying to my Creator God, I’m planning to do this or that, if it’s alright with You, Heavenly Father. If the fulfillment of every promise or plan rests on God’s approval, then God’s hand is hidden in everything that happens to us. At any given time, the will of God might be unknown, but the presence of God is certain.
But, back to the second thought. For the Hemingway character, the memory that his heart was broken didn’t hit him until he was awake for a while. I think that’s a common occurrence for anyone who has lost a loved one, especially in the early days and weeks of grieving. I have a distinct memory of awaking, rested and ready for the day, then realizing that my loved one was gone. That pause was a resetting of all that would follow.
I find that pause occurs in some of the most auspicious places. Yes, it sometimes occurs early in the morning as my foggy mind begins to clear. It seems to happen most frequently during my time with God, reading my devotionals, my prayer life, my conversations with my Lord. It’s like God puts a bookmark to remind me that I am His and what will happen passes through his hand. For me, content of those pauses, God willing, often times ends up in sentences, and ideas on the printed page. How have those pauses with God reset your day?
If I should awaken in the morning to a sadness, that’s something that I need to share with Him. On the other hand, when I look out and the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day, and I feel rested and I’m ready for this day, that’s when I rejoice in Him. It’s that God willing second thought that sets me up for the day of blessings. May God willingly bless your day. So be it.
Closing Prayer Prompts:
Considering Psalms 40 and 46, as you pray. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness to be our help and our Deliverer. When in despair and see no way for the future, declare your trust in the Lord and be assured that He hears our prayers and requests. The first words of Psalm 46 declares God’s protection. He is our refuge and fortress. No matter what happens God is in control. We surrender it all to Him when we fear, gives us hope to endure because we know in the end He will be exalted. All we have to do is be still and expect Him to move. We trust in you, Lord. Amen.
