Untangling Life...

I read an Advent devotion early this morning. It reminded me that Advent is about waiting. This was my favorite line in the devotion: "Those who do not know how it feels to struggle anxiously with the deepest questions of life, of their life, and to patiently look forward with anticipation until the truth is revealed, cannot even dream of the splendor of the moment in which clarity is illuminated for them."

I have a beautiful, sweet friend who knows all about waiting. About praying for a child. For life to change. For better choices to be made. For the truth to be revealed. And for the clarity to be illuminated. After we had breakfast one morning, she looked at me with tears streaming and asked me why it all has to be so hard. Why? I didn't have an answer.

She sent me a text the other day. She shared how God had spoken to her heart while she was putting up her Christmas lights. As she cried out to Him for answers, He gently shared some comforting insight that warmed her heart and gave her a little hope and peace. The answer was just for her. The clarity that helped illuminate His presence in her situation. All while she was untangling her Christmas lights. Part of her text read: "In my spirit as I untangled the lights I felt Him say 'I know what it feels like to see my Son hurting'. He helped me know that He understands a grieving parents heart."

This season of Advent is about waiting. About waiting to see what is inside that beautifully wrapped present under the tree. About waiting for the celebration of Truth to come. All while we are untangling our lives. Struggling with the deep questions. Waiting for the clarity that will be illuminated in our spirits just like the lights on the tree. Finding a way to be still enough to just know.

Abraham waited a long time for the promise of his son. He untangled a lot of life along the way. Sarah laughed as she untangled what she heard. Jacob wrestled with God as he untangled life. David made poor choices as he untangled his lies. Jonah ran away as he untangled his calling. Peter denied as he untangled all that he had just experienced. Saul persecuted and then Paul untangled his past. But the clarity came for each of them when the promises were revealed. In the waiting, they learned about Truth.

I don't know what part of your life you are untangling during this season. Or if maybe this season is filled with illumination for you. But I do know that as you enjoy the beauty of untangled lights shining brightly around you, remember Who we are waiting for. The Light of the world. The Love that came down and lived among us. The Truth that will set you free. And in the end all the lights of life will be untangled and every eye will see. And that is worth the wait.

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—

    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 

Isaiah 11:2 NLT

He goes before you...

It has been a very long couple of weeks. For lots of different reasons. Some good. Some fun. Some sad. Some not so fun. But in the quietness of this morning, I was reminded once again that I did not "do" the last few weeks alone. He went before me...

As I was standing in my back yard with the dog, it was so quiet. Then the rustling of the leaves started. As the wind gently moved the trees, the leaves rustled. The few hold-outs that are hanging on to those limbs cracked and creaked in the breeze. The leaves on the ground jiggled in the grass and joined in the chorus of rustling. I closed my eyes and I could feel the ever so slight breeze brush over my face. When I opened my eyes, I could see the clouds moving across the sky. Just gliding. Slowly.

I immediately was reminded of the Israelites who followed the pillar of cloud by day. The Lord went before them. When the cloud moved, they moved. Where the cloud went, they went. No fan fare. Just a pillar of clouds. Reminding them that He was with them.

The verse in the Bible that talks about the LORD going before them uses the word for "the Angel of the Lord". That word means this: "Who is called the Angel of the Lord, not a created but the uncreated Angel, the Angel of Jehovah's presence, in whom his name, nature and perfections were, even the Word and Son of God, the Lord Christ, who went before the armies of Israel, as their King, Leader, and Commander." It means Jesus!

As you move through this holiday season, look for your pillar of clouds. The Bible gives us a great illustration of the presence of the Lord. Jesus is the Reason for this Season. He hasn't changed. He is still there. Leading. Guiding. Gently gliding ahead of you. 

So many people are struggling in this season of Joy. He knows that. He knows your heart and your thoughts and your anxious ways. Let Him lead you through your wilderness into your promise land. He knows the way!

"By day the LORD went ahead of them

 in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way 

and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, 

so that they could travel by day or night." 

Exodus 13:21