I began to take a short walk one simple Friday afternoon. It was one of those unplanned walks with no agenda other than to enjoy this beautiful world God created so very intricately and purposefully. I often take these walks alone; they give me a space to let my soul breathe and calm the “busy”, the state of hurry in my heart that tends to happen during the week. The sun was dancing across freshly-fallen raindrops on the ground and through the softly dripping leaves of the trees. It was beautiful. It was peaceful. I was blissfully and contentedly alone.
However, Jesus didn’t want me to walk alone. So He joined me when I least expected. He asked me to hold His hand and walk with Him.
So I did, and the truths He showed me during this walk brought tears to my eyes. Our Lord truly does delight in showering His followers in perfect love.
He is faithful. He is my protector. And He sees such beauty in me. He brings life to the barren.
Again, I was starting out this walk with the intention of walking alone. But Jesus joined me before I even stepped bare feet out of my yard. Last summer, the Lord spoke one simple phrase to me, “the color orange.” He later showed me the reason for this by painting the sky with radiant sunset orange clouds, demonstrating His faithfulness even when I don’t at first see it.
“I was with you this summer, and I am still with you now,” was the gentle promise in those clouds. I whispered prayers of deep gratitude, of joy to my loving Savior and began my walk with a lighter heart and step.
But the Lord wasn’t leaving me alone quite yet. As I went my familiar path, the Lord continued to whisper to my heart.
I truly believe when we create space and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell with us, He will show up. Whether through peace to your heart, a song at just the right moment, or through words so definite they are almost audible, He will make His sweet, powerful, captivating presence known.
“Hold My hand. Walk with me.” Words so clear He could’ve been physically beside me. Examples of my first few thoughts are as follows:
Um. You don’t have a hand.
My neighbors will think I’m crazy.
Okay but why, Jesus.
Honest. Real. Sometimes the Lord speaks to us and we doubt. Because to our human, finite, need-an-answer-for-everything minds, what He asks us to do can seem crazy and unnatural.
However, when we submit to His will, He moves our hearts ever closer to Him.
Okay, Lord. I held out my hand and curled my fingers as if there was a physical hand holding mine.
“No, the other hand.” Ok, as if I wasn’t already a little confused about holding His hand, Him asking me to switch hands was just a lil’ bit more confusing. But I did it. I walked in silence for a few minutes, holding out my hand to God. What happened next brought chills and tears.
My simple act of obedience to His voice allowed His all-consuming presence to flood over me.
Literally. I was walking in the presence of a holy, loving God. Like rain on dry ground, this reality washed over me, the Holy Spirit saturating every bit of me.
The God of the entire universe walks with me in every single step.
I still had no idea why He told me to switch hands, but I trusted He would show me. For the moment, I was walking hand in hand with the Lover of my soul. It was such a beautiful picture of His tender love towards me. Being romanced by the Creator of the world and of my heart will never cease to bring me wonder.
As I continued this walk with Him, He showed me a picture. Traditionally, proper etiquette called for the gentleman to stay on the curb side when walking with a lady. This was done in order to protect the lady from muddy water splashed by passing cars or buggies or from the cars themselves.
The hand Jesus had me switch to had Him walking on the side closest to the road. He longs to protect me, protect my heart, and protect my spirit.
I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber… The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.
Psalm 121:1-4,7-8
He revealed to me the complete diligence and care with which He watches over me. He is always present and all-sufficient. He is sovereign. And oh, did these truths bring peace to my heart.
Just a man would protect his lover from whatever may have come, Jesus walked on the curb side to show me the lengths He goes to protect and care for me. He loves so passionately and so completely.
I was walking with Him. Letting Him lead me. He stopped me just before reaching my driveway, in front of our side yard.
Something attacked this side yard and caused every living thing to die over the past few years, including a willow tree I’d dubbed as “my tree.” Two trees and several bushes and plants removed later, one lone rose bush that has not bloomed well in years is one of the few things still over there.
If you know me, you know I love trees and all things green and growing. Cutting down trees and removing dead plants hurts my heart. However, as the Lord stopped me front of this barren landscape, He drew to my attention that single rose bush.
In full, beautiful bloom.
Life from the barren. Beauty where I saw none.
“I do the same for you.” Once more, the Lord showed me more of His perfect character. No matter how barren, how lifeless I may feel at times, He breathes life into dry bones. He sees beauty in the dust. He brings beauty from the dust.
Oh, what a wonderful, captivating God we follow.
He continues to fill me with vibrant, beautiful life. He is ever-faithful. He longs to meet with me and draw me closer to Him. He shows up when I’m not expecting.
He longs to meet with you, too. He wants to take you by the hand and walk with you through every moment, every day of your life. Would you consider inviting Him in? When we are obedient to His voice, when we let Him lead us, is it His delight to shower us in His presence.
And when you encounter the presence of the living, active, powerful, and loving God, you will never be the same.
As you seek Him, He will fill you with indescribable joy, inexplicable peace, and confident hope.
He sees so, so much beauty in you. He is faithful to bring beauty from your dust.
Will you submit to the God of the universe and allow Him to romance your heart? He delights in you, friend.
Let’s hold fast to that today.
