This photo is of a place that holds great meaning to our family. In 2008, my Father-in-law was believed to have walked across this bridge in Paradise, Michigan and was never seen again. While he has never been found and we are left wondering, even after all this time…we choose to believe that he was on a journey…he walked across this old rickety bridge into Paradise (heaven).
Our hearts won’t let us visualize anything less than
God holding him in His loving arms.
Life is a strange and wonderful thing. Pain has a way of bringing clarity to those things that are truly important. As I crossed the old rickety bridge, planks aged from rough northern Michigan winters, so many emotions and thoughts flooded through me. This was the first time since his disappearance in 2008 that I have been brave enough to walk in his footsteps. In the whisper of the October wind, I heard God’s voice all around me. I reached for my husbands hand and held it tight.
He is on a journey too, and I could feel his pain.
When things happen in our lives that we have not planned–we need not visualize anything less than God holding us in His loving arms. His Grace is sufficient for us. As I pray for answers to my health issues and have prayed for God to renew my strength, I have also learned to lean into him much more…and the more I lean, the more he teaches me–in the stillness of my quiet dialogue with Him.
“God, it’s like I’m crossing that old rickety bridge…
I need to see you on the other side…to know that you are there“…
He always shows up. ALWAYS.
We never walk alone.
He is as close as our smallest utterance of His name.
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”