Faint echos of discouragement
Claw at the surface
They want to break through
But I’m relying on You
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Put one foot in front of the other
Until my light appears
Let my Spirit keep you quiet
My presence keep you still
Give Me your burdens
So I can carry you through
Rest your worried mind
Trust in my care for you
I often don’t stop talking long enough to hear your reply.
I don’t sit still long enough to receive your direction.
I pace and worry and try to make things happen on my own.
I doubt and question and fail to see You sitting on the throne.
I confess my sins to the world but do I proclaim your glory?
Do I trust in your forgiveness enough to proclaim your salvation story?
Walk tall, walk secure
The hand that upholds you
Does not falter
Share his words, speak peace
The hand that guides you
Never sleeps
The tides wash over me
But I don’t drown
I walk through darkness
Yet I’m found
Your love pours down
I battle with demons
Yet You lend strength
My feet tread this world
But my spirit in grace
I see your face
Beautiful, wonderful
Glimpses of your heart
Too great to fathom
But this vision You impart
I’m not scared of the dark
Always after a mountaintop
Comes a Valley
Faith is tested through doubt
Convictions shaken to strengthen
The lessons You teach us about
4.18.24
Creation speaks louder
When distractions lead to doubt
For the mountains proclaim His glory
And our hearts, for Him, cry out
The sea and sky
They testify
To the vastness of His hands
The moon and stars
They whisper
Of the unfathomable “I Am”
Growth is a mindset
Pliable yet strong
Love is an action
Not tallying others’ wrongs
Faith is personal
Developed in experience
Wisdom is key
In knowing the difference
Writing is my Red Sea
The waters part when I step in
Faith and obedience
Prompting my pen
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9
I built my walls on fear
To protect me from the cold
To keep visitors at a distance
Feeling safer on my own
The Lord asked me to step out
To leave my dilapidated home
To led it fade from my vision
And trust in Him alone
Faithful I will be
To follow where He leads
For I know his yoke is light
His provisions are my only need
When this life brings trouble
When the arrows fly
I will not cower in fear
For He remains by my side
A devoted soldier I’ll be
Whether I win or bleed
Surrendering to His battle plan
Guaranteeing His victory!
“The Lord your God is in your midst – a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with his love; he will rejoice over
you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Though arrows pierce
And more battles lay ahead
I know the road traveled
Is where Your omniscience has led
Not in riches, not in debt
Not in busyness nor days of rest
Not in blessings nor past regret
Not in my future, not places I knew
Not in revelations nor trials I went through
No – my worth, my life, my salvation is found in You
I can write my story
I can tell you where I’ve failed
I can glory in the ways I got back up
But there’s a better story to tell
My common thread
My strong life line
Who’s been by my side
Since the beginning of time
He knows my frailties
Seen me through my darkest nights
He wakes me up every morning
And encourages me in this life
He collects our tears in a jar
To one day be redeemed
He sees who we truly are
And loves us all the same.
He sees our struggles
He sees our pain
He heals, restores
His faithfulness remains.
You are near to the broken hearted
You are near to those lost
Your faithfulness to us
Came at a great cost
You don’t see our iniquity
You don’t see our faults
Your Son paid that price
On the cross
We live in a world
Where questions abound
Doubt seeps in
And hopelessness is found
But Your Word and truth
Gives hope
Your voice and forgiveness
Helps us to cope
Every moment brings a new promise
A new sunrise and change
Every prayer makes us feel heard
And gives us hope for the next day
Although His timing may be different
He works everything into his picture
We are here to be moved at His will
We just need to keep trusting and be still
A secret way by which You lead
Off the beaten path
Where no other traveler has set foot
Just You and I together at last
A place where You tell me
Of things long ago
And give me glimpses
Of where we’ll go
We sit by a stream
to refresh and renew
Where I bask in Your presence
And give my praise to You
Stand firm, He says
Do not be swayed or dismayed
Stand firm, He says
Knowing I command the waves
Don’t let impatience have its voice
Calling you away or aside
Don’t rush ahead to force change
Convinced by your own pride
No, stand firm, He says
In my will and in my way
Stand firm, He says
For I rule this and every day.
Sometimes
we just need little pushes
little touches
from the unknown
to inspire us, to remind us
we are not alone
When He doesn’t raise the dead
But stays longer on his journey instead
When He doesn’t end the suffering
Or the drought with a fresh lain spring
When He allows the boat to capsize
And sits silently while we cry
Where does our faith, then, abide?
To the tomb, to the inner room
To the cross where He was forsaken
To the moments before victory
Where his believers sat unshaken
Human reasoning and effort do not
Bring about the changes
Only God’s Spirit can accomplish
So, instead of mustering up strength
Surrender to His work in and around you
With steady, hopeful and patient faith
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6
Thank You for my sorrow
For it is in the night
I best see Your light
Thank You for my questions
For it is within doubt
My faith finds it’s sight
Thank You for my hunger
For it is the pain of my need
That seeks filling from Your hand
Thank You for keeping my eyes under cover
For it is not knowing tomorrow
That keeps me surrendered to Your plan
Not near the rose pedals
Or lavished with ease
But fighting with the devil
And down on your knees
Trust Him, Trust Him
In bitter tears and strife
His peace He’ll give
As you surrender your life
If God leaves you in a place you don’t like, you can either stay miserable or find ways to experience peace and joy in the midst of it. And where is our only source of eternal joy that rises above our circumstances? In Him alone.
My earthly mind says
Make it all the way I want
Just do as I please
Don’t inconvenience or burden me
But His heart says
I’ll cause you discomfort
Uncertainty and unease
Until You place all your trust in Me
A Silent night as any other
While a miracle was born
Lowly laid in a manger
The very first Christmas morn
Could they hear on that night
His cries that would save
The wrath He would bore
As God set the stage
A fragile babe
Our heavenly King
God’s Light shining down
Erasing death’s sting
May my joy be found in You
On the long and scorching days
May Your peace overrule
When despair says there’s no way
May my heart learn to wait
When patience has all but gone
May my lips continue to praise You
When my ears can’t hear the song
You create beauty from all the pieces of our lives.
In our own strength we can do nothing. Our hands just wriggle and writhe
With this knowledge we come before You limited yet sincere
In our dependence on Your mercy and Hand to act mightily here.
Christian Poetry, Thoughts & Analogies 