Keep Walkin
I believe it was Churchill who said, “…if you find yourself walking through hell, keep walking”. Good advice for those weary from battle in a world that can often feel cold, dark, and dreary. The dark night of the soul, that inner struggle with life’s disappointments, the emotional exhaustion of a less than hoped for life, can all add up to a living spiritual hell. If this is the case for you today, I offer two words, “Keep walking.”
The temptation for each of us at one point or another, amidst the overwhelming forces which rage against our soul, is to just give up, quit. In those moments where the terror of the unknown fill us with perilous thoughts, we must remember that in walking we take another step closer to the light at the end of the dark tunnel. Moreover, we must remember, that light, however distant it may seem, is actually moving toward us. The Prince of Light, the one who redeems the darkness and uses it for His purposes, actually is pursuing us in our darkened state. The very Giver of Light is chasing us even as He is chasing the darkness away.
Today, if you find yourself in the land of the unknown, the desert of regret, or the great forest of failure, place your hope in the promise of God for those who seek Him with an honest heart. He works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8) Keep walking toward your eternal purpose, life in Him. As the tug of false hopes grabs hold of your affections, keep walking. When the momentary and frustrated promises of pleasure seek to steer you off course, keep walking. When the sober reality of stolen waters seeks to drown you in sorrow, keep walking. When the weight of addiction arrests your every aspiration for release, keep walking. When all your efforts for good are thwarted, keep walking. Whatever hell brings your way, keep walking. And if like the prodigal son, you actually bring hell to your own doorstep, find the courage to turn around, and start walking, back in the right direction.
In walking we find progress. In walking there is hope. In walking the light gets nearer, and the storm-tossed waves flatten out. Just as Jesus’ disciple was called out of the boat of safety, and onto the waters of uncertainty, so too are we called to trust Him and walk forward on the sea of the unknown. Though we all tend to hunger for a life of ease and perfect peace and clarity, it seems as though the call of God draws nearer to us in the walk through difficulty, the stroll through the valley of the shadow, along the roadway to who knows where. If we choose to run, to run through life in pursuit of unending pleasure, fame, and plenty, we risk running right past the purposes of God for us. In reality there is no greater hell. Separation from the One who brings safety in the darkness is hell defined. We assume light for our souls is found in some place other than where God leads us. We question the Creator of Light, and His very abilities. We doubt He can frame the darkness and bring forth hope. We are convinced the dark souls around us are actually dancing for joy when in reality they are in a hopeless tango with the one who will destroy their very soul. We see light as dark and call the darkness light. We throw the map out the window even as we approach a perilous turn.
As all of the people of God throughout history have found, walking with God is the only adventure which gives our life a true course. When we refuse, ignore, or otherwise disdain His compass set for us, we find the desert a hopeless place. In fact, we are prone to call the desert by another name far more flattering. Though our souls are parched and malnourished, we say we are “living”. We ignore the brittle and decaying bones which surround us. In choosing to be our own guide we have abandoned all the markers which lead us to safety. Eventually, we come to find the desert to vast, and our escape from the drought impossible. With God as our guide, however, even the driest patch of ground can become an oasis of hope. Just as Jesus Himself was, “acquainted with grief”, and was led through the valley of the shadow of death, so we too, can find everlasting light at the end of the tunnel.
Is your heart darkened by the stain of sin? Have you lost hope for a life blessed by companionship? Have your kids failed to live up to your expectations for them, for you? Are you failing yourself? Have all of your honest efforts led you no where? Do you find yourself in that place you always hoped you would never be? Has life brought you so many unexpected blows that you are tempted to quite altogether? Keep walking. Take one more step. Find the courage to lift your foot and throw it forward one more time. We do not know which step will land us on the shore. If you want to walk on water, keep your gaze focused on the One who gives the waters life, and …keep walking. If you have found yourself running in circles in a dry and weary land, stop, drop your agenda, take up His compass again, and walk. Walk back in His direction.
Joy does not have to be gone forever. Hope can spring eternal. Laughter can be found again. Goodness remains behind the veil of evil. Light appears brightest against the darkest night. Walk toward it. Keep walkin.
Walk this way,
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com