The bench

This morning I wanted to get outside and away from people, and traffic, and everything else that distracts me! You know those moments in life when you just want to be closer to the Lord...I feel like being out in nature is my of escape. The Lord is everywhere and anywhere but He comes alive to me when its His creation and me.
I decided to take a trail called view point. I have never done it before but it went up and it looked like it would be beautiful once I got to where ever it lead. I started out running then of course started walking. The freshly rained on trail, green trees, and cool breeze made it a beautiful wog. (walk and jog :) )
I took time to stop and look at the view. It was so pretty! I could see all of Fort Collins and the other people out enjoying the brisk morning but it was still only me on the trail I chose. I was so glad not to be near anyone!
After some time, I reached a point in the trail where it flattened out from the incline I was on. I saw a bench and a sign. I made it there and I read..."End of trail, Return the way you came!"
I could not help but take a moment to think how much this parallels my life in a lot of aspects. In life, we choose a trail and we work to miss the rocks or struggles, as well as take time to look and see the beauty of where we are at, not knowing what is ahead; then sometimes we arrive at the end of a trail or time of life where there is only a bench. God gave me a beautiful picture of how to think about my life with my time on View Point trail.
I chose a trail not knowing where it would take me trusting that it would be worth it in the end. As I got to the top and saw a bench it was a reminder that God was giving me a chance to stop, sit, and think about what I have just gone through. A lot of times in our journey we wonder if we go through everything for a reason. We sure do! In that moment I got to see how the Lord wants us to learn why we got to that bench. That bench symbolizes a time of rest and reflection while the sign shows us that its time to turn around. If I would have arrived to only a sign, I would not have taken time to look around and capture the what seems to me an anticlimatic moment. It was actually a time to appreciate where I have been but also realize there is more ahead. Dead ends in life are not "the ends." I needed this time with the Lord this morning more than anything. He gave me a perfect parallel of how I can appreciate the pain and beauty of a trail but also know He has more once we decide to turn around and see what is next.
I hope you too can appreciate the time on the bench but more importantly anticipate the turning around to see what God has in store!

Trust

Psalms 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

Ohh if we as humans could grasp this concept early in life, it would save a lot of pain in our journeys. I believe pain has the ability to shape a lot of who we are but the most important part of pain is laying it back down at the feet of Jesus. We may go through pain but if we keep carrying it, the burden will only get heavier. As followers of Christ, we have the ability to trust every part of our lives to God. He invites us to lay down all that holds us back from trusting Him fully. The most difficult part of laying down the hurt that we feel is the fear of the unknown. So many of us adjust to finding our identity in our pain that if we do not have that then we may lose a part of who we are. Here is the wonderful part of Who my Jesus is, He promises to take what binds us and give back something that will enable us to fly.

The Lord is constantly working in our lives to give us His best. How can any of us turn down His best? I know from my own walk with Him, I have done that. I have chosen to be selfish. I never viewed it as selfish until the best Dad in the world, my Dad opened my eyes to it. I did not realize that by me choosing to go on with what I am comfortable with is actually saying Lord, I do not trust that You know whats best for me. My heart hurts because I so desperately want to please my Jesus. I know He's waiting, I know He's patient, I know He loves me. This has to be motivation enough to reach out for His hand. At least I know it is for me. God takes us individually on a journey to trust His heart and His intentions. His intentions are good! All good! All I can do is smile as I think about it.
I hope your ready to jump into His arms too!

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30