(I wrote this in 2008. At the time, I was coming out of a tough time in my life that I had written about on this blog. I think it's fitting that I start this up again with this post. I hope that it ministers to someone and that those of you who were with me through that time four years ago will accept my thanks again for being there for me.)
I've been out of the valley for a while now, waiting for just the right words to write about my freedom. I have been waiting for a few months for something inspired to come to me that would allow me to wax poetic about this life-changing experience - something that someone out there would read and feel that her (or his) life had changed the moment the words were consumed by hungering eyes. And so I wait.
And wait.
And wait.
Okay, I'm not known for my patience, so I'll just go with what comes to me today and share the awe-inspiring insights at a later date. When they come to me. If they come to me. Here's what I've got today: I'm convinced that I made it through this latest valley because of two very important things.
- I was able to share some of what I was going through with people who were willing to listen to, pray for and love and support me. Thank you so much for that.
- When I stopped being afraid of being in the valley - when I truly opened my heart and listened - I discovered that I had never been alone. My God had been waiting for me to open up and let Him in to heal, to comfort, to love me. He sat quietly next to me in the valley, patiently waiting. Then, when I was finally ready to see that, He went to work. And I thank Him.
The following poem, originally published April 24, 2008, was written on the trail out of that valley.
He seeks me in the darkest,
deepest reaches of my heart
and knows the hidden yearnings of my soul.
He fills me with His essence,
with the fullness of His love -
His breath of life alone can make me whole.
He meets me where I’m searching
for a hand that I can hold
and leads me to the place where I am loved.
He soothes me with His presence,
gently whispering in my ear,
“Don’t worry – in My eyes you are enough.”
He saves me from the shadows
and He calms me with His touch,
embracing me just like a faithful friend.
His promise is a covenant
He’s made with me in faith
that He will be my lover ‘til the end.
He loves me with a fierceness,
with a power that conveys
His strength and His desire for my heart.
Protector and my Lover,
He pursues me night and day -
our joining means we’ll never be apart.
