I sat on the stump, like a fool, shaking and wondering...

This morning, my heart was churning with possibilities regarding an ailment my three-month granddaughter was experiencing. The symptom, possibly quite serious, pulled me into the fear mode, then worry, then prayer, then back to apprehension, then faith, then with clammy hands, I yanked worry back again.

Have you ever traveled through that merry-go-round of emotions? You know, the kind where you’re sure of your faith, you have God’s Word hidden in your heart, you’ve shared it with others over and over again, and you’ve applied it diligently.

But when a loved one is being threatened in any way, all wisdom woven together in your soul begins to unravel. Your mind knows, but it’s not in sync with what burns in your heart.

Until…until, God, in His awesome wisdom nudges you in the right track. He did that for me, through of all things…this story:

"Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him, and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm."

With heart pulsating, I too sat on the stump, in the darkness trembling at the possibilities I could not see, imagining the worst regarding my grandchild.

Foolish, right? God was beside and He still is, to stand guard and keep my granddaughter from harm. I’d blindfolded my heart and missed the comfort of knowing He was within inches from me.

How about you? Are you sensing you’re alone, in the dark, and dreading the beasts that might lurk around?

I pray you remove the blindfold to see the reassuring presence of the Lord, watching your every move, knowing your every thought and counting your every tear.

" Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the LORD had given me help, II would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your love, O LORD , supported me. When anxiety was great within me your consolation brought joy to my soul" (Psalm 93:16-19).

I’m praying that, because of Christ, you also pass the test of sitting on the stump of life with calmness and confidence.

Janet

p.s. I’ll be sending my February newsletter soon. I’d love to include you, and it’s free! To register, just send a blank email to splash_of_inspiration@getresponse.com.