Turn the Page
I stood on top of a ravine, peering out over the vast emptiness between the ledge I stood on and the ledge on the other side. My stomach lurched and I quickly brought my eyes back up to avoid the dizzying effect of staring into the dramatic drop. As my stomach continued to flop about, I attempted to take deep breaths to squash the pervasive feeling of dread.
“Lord what is the huge cavern about? There is no way I can jump from this side to the next. I’m hoping that’s not what I’m supposed to do.”
“No. What you are seeing is the space between the turning of the page. You are standing on the edge of the pages of on an open book.”
I contemplated this. I was standing on the vertical pages of an open book, the already read side, and the spine was on the ground. The other side of the raven would be the pages yet to be read. To reach the other side I needed the next page to be turned and come over to my side.
“So, I shouldn’t be scared of turning the page. Who turns the page? Do you Lord?”
“Yes and no. You must have your will in alignment with Mine to allow Me to turn the page.”
“What if we don’t get in alignment with Your will. What then?”
“People can choose to be stuck on a certain chapter or even sentence of their life for as long as they want to. They can toil away at a problem or perceived problem for decades. Or they can surrender to Me and receive instruction on the next right steps for them. There is no promise that the chapter that they are living is going to be easy or quick there is only promise that with My presence it will be sweeter. Believe My word that I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be with you in every portion of your life to the extent that you let me. Hunger for Me. Run after My goodness. Every sentence and word will have an increase beyond your imagination if you do. Chose to adventure with Me.”
***
Our lives are like books. There are so many rich ideas in contemplating this. Are we an open or closed book? Are we a book with a beautiful cover and pristine pages? Or are we beat up and taped together, but boy we lived life. I don’t know but it’s fun to think about.
Pause for a moment and think about your life and where it’s currently going. Are you pleased or a little apprehensive? Either way surrender it to the Lord. If you are pleased praise Him for his great work. If you are apprehensive praise Him for his great work and surrender to Him what feels undone or incorrect, the messy parts that leave us confused, scared or sad.
If you have been stuck repeating a chapter, run to the Lord. There is no condemnation, and He has the answer to the next right step. Don’t let fear steal your next pages.
I for one want to get to the end of my life and have my book look like it’s been run through a waterfall, dropped in mud and dried out in the sunshine. I want to live and be fully present in each one of the sentences that the Lord gives me. I want to participate fully in His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
Where are you in life? Trying to turn your own pages and frustrated? I’ve been there.
Or is your page turning and it feels like the world is collapsing? I’ve been there too.
Maybe you’re stuck and don’t see a way out. I’ve been there too.
Life puts us in so many scenarios. From great adventures, romance novels, comedy routines, and sob fests our lives are filled with them all. And frankly, sometimes it feels like it’s all happening at once.
Pause. Contemplate His goodness wherever you are in your book.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6, NIV)
Prayer for you and me: Lord teach us where we are in our journey. Help us to turn the page to the next great adventure You have for us. We know the plans You have for us are for good when we are in submission to You. Let us leave nothing undone. Help us ponder Your greatness and acknowledge Your presence in all things. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
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