Well, I never felt more like crying all night
‘Cause everything’s wrong
And nothing is right, ….
You got me singing the blues…
That’s some of the lines from Randy Travis’ song ‘I never felt more like singing the blues’.
Blues. The problem with ‘blues’ is that they colour everything and envelop everything in the deep dusk of despair. Shadows deepen and shapes distort, till everything seems monstrous and threatening. One feels alone, cut off and helpless.
Perfect setting for the Dark Whisperer to get busy, sowing doubts, fears, lies about self, God and others. Self-pity lovingly waters the poisonous seeds that have been sown. The Dark Whisperer smugly waits for the harvest of Bitterness and Despair to come forth.
I was reading Psalm 43 today morning. David has the blues and he has it bad. He feels surrounded and friendless, and as always he runs to God, His steadfast friend, for help.
Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
Psa 43:3 ESV
Light splashes colour, ruining the blue monotones.
Truth cuts through the cobwebby fears.
Brooding monsters are mere trees
And haunted ruins, commonplace homes.
I’m not in vampirish Transylvania!
No! Just in mundane Suburbania!
The Dark Whisperer’s harvest is uprooted.
Worship and praise burst forth in triumph.
I enter the Holy of Holies,
And there at the foot of the Cross-
The ultimate altar of God,
I stand redeemed and made holy,
To sing for joy
To God who is my joy
And Whose joy is my strength.
Thru God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies. Ps 108:13
What is the temptation that stands before you? What is the lie that satan is whispering right now to weaken your resolve?
The Lord of the Open door has set before you an open door of escape out of temptation.
The Lord with the feet like burnished bronze stands with you to fight your battle for you. He shields you with Himself and gives you strength to stand.
The Lord with eyes like flames of fire sees through every scheme and strategy of satan. He sees into the innermost depths of your heart and sees how He may show Himself strong on your behalf.
The Lord of Truth cuts through every lie of the enemy.
Fistful of clay, Little Strength child of God, we depend not on the arm of flesh, but on the mighty arm of God, who has willed His truth to triumph through us.
Trapped in a darkness that hides each shape and form
How can I take a step forward?
How far is the wall up ahead?
Is there a wrinkle or fold over which I might stumble?
What snares lie before me?
I don’t know.
I don’t like the not-knowing,
The helpless feeling of no-control.
Stripped of all confidence
I feel each step forward
How do I know I have reached my destination,
Or strayed off the path into a dead-end?
My Father in heaven, He sees me.
He knows every trembling, hesitant step.
He feels the doubtful groping
And He draws closer than ever before,
His whisper breaks the hypnotic trance of my fears.
He sees me, He does not despise the weakness within me.
He holds me gently by the hand,
And He speaks His words of comfort and instruction
And leads me line upon line
Precept upon precept, along a path I do not know,
But ‘tis a path made bright by His Truth.
He enlarges my steps underneath me
And makes the rough places smooth.
My trembling heart is learning to trust Him,
To lean on His mighty arm,
To wait each moment upon Him
To find new strength each day in His love.
Then I will lead the blind along a path they never knew to places where they have never been before. I will change darkness into light for them. I will make the rough ground smooth. I will do these things for them; I will not abandon my people. Isa 42:16
Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? … Song of Songs 8:5
Major learning through the last year:
- God does not despise me for not knowing the way. Nor is He impatient with my ‘blindness’
- God speaks. ALWAYS!!!!! He is never, never, ever silent. The only problem is that He does not give me the answers I want to hear, because I want quick fix solutions, I want to know the last page of the story. Hehehehe… I want to know where I am going so I can feel I am in control.
- God however is interested in the journey, in making sure each step I take is sure-footed and in the right path.
- God delights to guide me and lead me and lend me His arm.
speak peace always 