I HAVE BEEN YOUNG!

 

Sunday, September 25, 2022

 

I HAVE BEEN YOUNG!

 

Ps 37:23-25

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

          The shirtless and shoeless days of long ago sing their siren song and my mind returns to a much simpler time. Toys were discarded boxes, sticks and trash can lids. Trees were for climbing. Smaller trees were for chopping and lashing together into makeshift huts. The saplings, along with their leaves, kept out the future and inside were adventures. Water filled ditches were for swimming and fallen logs across a ravine were for bridges. How frightening it was to traverse the moss-covered oaks like a tightrope in a circus. We might not have crossed had it not been for the teasing of our fellows. But we made it! And now we are old.

 

          The steps of a man-made-good by the grace of God are ordered by the Lord. We are glad that He is leading. We have learned to trust his guidance and His timing. The first nervous and tentative steps of following gradually become confident strides. We are tempted to break into a run but are careful not to outrun our light. Many of our challenges are repeat attempts to trap us. The devil is not our friend and we have seen many of his tricks before. We learn to step over the trip wires.

 

          Through it all we have learned by observation that God is wise, good, and kind. We have been upheld by His hand so often that we no longer fear falling. We have been fed so many times that we fear no hunger. We may look back on lean times but can’t point to any failure of our God. We have never seen the righteous abandoned or the children of God orphaned.

 

          We have seen enough to encourage a careful crossing of the mossy oak. The vale below holds terror but there is peace and joy on the other side.

 

Dear Lord, we have walked together many days. All I have seen and all I have received removes the fear from that which I now face. Thank you for never leaving me or forsaking me. AMEN