"You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Psalm 139:3-4, 13-16 (NIV)
So often I find myself fixated with the step that is directly in front of me and the one after that and the one after that. I am constantly looking down trying to feel out with my big toe what might be next.
Quicksand, mud, paint, rocks, glass.
Testing what might be ahead and what might be after that. I find myself focused on figuring out where I ought to step next, completely consumed with the “what-ifs” of the ground ahead and lost to the Father’s gaze.
The whole time that I am groping around, feeling out the situation, searching out the next step, He is watching me intently. Waiting for me to simply look up.
His desire is that I should look directly into His eyes and peer into the immensity of His love for me.
Gaze at Him in awe.
Marvel.
Gently He says “Look at Me, my daughter. Follow My voice. Everything will be okay.”
Yes, there may still be rocks ahead, the road may get muddy and slippery. I may even stumble, perhaps fall. But as I gaze into His eyes, transfixed by the overwhelming grace that fills them, the road doesn’t matter quite so much anymore.
The steps ahead are already in place.
The Way Maker is here.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1-4 (NKJV)
~written 05/20/2018~
