Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Religion Columnist
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life”… Psalm 16:11
Spring has finally arrived (at least according to the calendar), Easter is coming, and it is one day closer until Jesus comes again. All of those things are cause for great rejoicing, but right now I can only look ahead a day at a time. I feel like the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 when he slept under a juniper tree and an angel came and fed him and gave him something to drink. The angel came a second time and told him to get up and eat “because the journey is too great for thee”.
Elijah stood by the mountain and experienced a great wind, but the LORD wasn’t in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake but the LORD wasn’t in the earthquake. Next came a fire, but the LORD wasn’t in the fire. Finally there was a still, small voice and it was then that the LORD spoke to Elijah and gave him instructions as to what to do next.
Without going into any details, let’s just say I got knocked off my feet physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. Even now I feel as though the whole situation is surreal and never happened, but it did. It didn’t happen to me personally, but I took on the situation and tried to help even though there wasn’t anything I could do but lend support.
After two days with only occasional catnaps, we were sent home and told it was best we didn’t come back for a few days. That was the last thing I wanted to hear as I thought I should wait there instead of coming home.
Once home after a trip to the doctor, I spent the first day sleeping. Upon waking I still felt totally empty both physically, mentally, and spiritually. I checked my phone and email and in the daily Bible verse I receive was Psalm 23 which gave me the first hope in days.
I have a daily devotion I read every day and in its pages was more words of hope and encouragement. It reminded me that God created me and knows all about me and my circumstances.
After a while, I picked up my Sunday school book. Currently we are going through the book of 1 John and have written assignments for each day of the week. On a day I needed to complete last week the words literally jumped off the page at me. In God’s word were the words that lifted, encouraged, and gave me instruction for my current situation. God’s Word didn’t promise the situation would be resolved, but I received reassurance He will be with me every step of the way.
All of this would be enough to provide the encouragement I needed, but God didn’t stop there. Later in the day I picked up an inspirational novel and began reading. There was a situation similar to mine and one of the characters shared encouragement and support that felt like they were intended only for me. It was just a story, but God still used it to help me.
Is the situation resolved? No, and it may not be for a very long time. Instead, I am daily seeking God’s Word for that still, small voice for instruction for my next step. I wonder what method God will use next to get my attention.
Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at: [email protected]
