"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." – 1 Peter 3:15
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
I typically take a Sabbath rest from writing on Sundays, but today is Pentecost Sunday and I felt prompted and prodded by the Holy Spirit through Luke's words in Acts 1:8 to witness to God's presence, power and providence in my life—even on days when I feel lonely, lacking confidence and lost—because this is what "giving a reason for my hope" looks like ... witnessing to God's withness experienced only in the wilderness.
Yesterday, a particularly difficult day, God provided me with a new piece of art, "This is hope: I do not know what's next but I am catching a glimpse of something beautiful." I know I have valuable pieces—people I love, places I'd like to be, and things I feel called to do—I just don't know how God's going to put all the pieces together and the clock is ticking on the puzzle work.
I am wrestling with the internal anxiety and external expectations that typically follow the end of a significant leg of one's journey, e.g. completing a Master of Arts in Christian ministry degree and Doctor of Ministry in Leadership degree, anxiety and expectations I would love to exchange for anticipation and expectancy that the same God who led me into this wilderness via a first crossing will lead me out of it and into new promises via a second crossing.
But yesterday I was reminded to rest. I am tired. This four-year-long and winding road of wandering and wondering has invited me to experience deeper valleys and wider vistas than I ever could have asked for or imagined (Eph. 3:20). Tomorrow, I'll have to make a different choice, but today I will labor to rest and attest to God's attentive presence in the person of the Holy Spirit who is with us and for us, working in us and through us to advance God's Kingdom on earth.
Comments