Weighed down with guilt and shame and the oppressive lie that a few thoughts must lead to destiny, I looked down at the floor as she spoke to me. Her name was Allison and she wanted to give me hope, but I felt none of it. She said “Sarah, just because you start down a road in life doesn’t mean you have to ride it out til the end.”
Yeah, whatever lady. I’m not feeling any better but thanks for taking the time to talk to me. She meant well and I appreciated her for it. Soon, the conference was over and I got in the car for my long ride home, dreading being alone.
GPS took me a different route than before and I pondered Allison’s words as I drove. Hopelessness was setting in like a plague and I figured it’d finish me off sooner or later. I rounded a bend and looked up the road. There sat a barn. Not just any barn, you see. A dilapidated, old broken down sight for sore eyes it was. Brown and broken and hole-y. It was useless as a building, long ago broken down by years of neglect and decay and rot. But it was there for me today. God knew I needed that barn. Oh how I needed it!
As I gazed at this life picture of destruction, God spoke to my heart and said,
“Sarah, this is destruction. You don’t have to go this way. Lift your eyes to the left… do you see that beautiful painting in the sky? I put that sunset there for you. Choose my way, it leads to life. When you hear lies in your head that say your destruction is inevitable, remember this scene, remember the colored splashes across the sky.
Satan’s only language is lies, sugar-coated poison, and he has come only to steal, kill and destroy you. I have come so that you may have life and that abundantly. In this world you will have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world. I endured suffering (I let myself be tortured and killed so I could one day be here with you). I don’t promise you an easy life, but I do promise this… my road for you will not lead to soul destruction. Satan’s will. I know you’re scared that My way will cramp your style, lessen your fun or be flat out boring, but I’m the one who invented adventure, joy, laughter, and sunsets, remember? You don’t believe me yet. But one day you will.
Sin and lies can only lead to your destruction. That’s their natural consequence. I want to save you from that. Will you let me? You don’t believe it fully yet but My Book was written to strengthen you, encourage you, and show you where the dead ends (or death ends) are in life. It’s a guide to avoid the landmines. Life has enough hurt in it already. Why create more for yourself? This week, I will call you to give up something you held most dear. I may give it back to you (in a healthier form) or I may not. Will you trust me?”
So I embark on this journey, tear-stained and wondering. Bringing fear and questions and confusion and doubt. But God is up to something.
Thanks for reading this post :)
My prayer for you:
“Jesus, I have no clue who is going to read this post. But you know. Please give them peace gifts today… glympses of you that will give them strength to keep walking, keep breathing. Enable them to really breathe for the first time today. Use this blog for Your glory (you know how I like to try to make a name for myself so foil those plans) and to save someone’s life. Today. Thanks for not giving up on us. Amen.”
