A couple weekends ago, a group of us went to a small village called Lisa for three nights. We worked with the church plant pastor out there, helping with the children's ministry and Sunday church service.
It was beautiful out there. Hills covered in green pastures, fields, and vineyards and spotted with white horses right out of a fairy tale. I've always been a city girl, but this place started to birth in me a genuine appreciation for the countryside…which is saying something!
We were given Saturday afternoon to prepare for the church service the next day. I decided to take a walk down the hill from where we lived into the expansive green fields of sheer, uninhibited, natural beauty.
After venturing down into a green ravine, surrounded by trees yet open to the brilliant blue sky spotted with fluffy white clouds, I found a secret place with the Lord. It was like He had prepared this quiet, secluded place especially for me to meet Him there.
I felt so alone and yet so close to my Father. I felt so free to express my raw emotions and my not-completely-articulated feelings to Him in a way that you can only do when you feel truly alone.
With my iPod on shuffle, the Josh Garrels song 107 started to play…
"This love endures forever
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
He sent his Word and it did heal us
From our rebellion and afflicted wounds
He called us home through the wilderness
Far beyond the gates of death
Oh Lord
I was alone
In the wilderness
When you showed me faithfulness
Oh Lord."
The Lord led me to read the Psalm that inspired this song and it spoke straight to my heart…
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."
– Psalm 107:1-9
It was like He gave to me in words the feelings and emotions I couldn't articulate myself. He satisfies my longing soul and fills my hungry soul with good things. Then and there it finally, truly registered in my heart that no man, no location, no material possession, no experience can ever fill that place in my soul that was created only for Him.
In that little green oasis in Lisa, Perieti, Draganesti-Olt, Romania, I met the Lord and He captured my heart. I hope someday the Lord will lead me back to that special place!
Photo courtesy of Annie Heathorn
