Hebrews 1:3a — “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. Sometimes in the ordinary activities of life we are suddenly confronted with a change in plans. We start out doing the same old, same old, but an unplanned and unpleasant event disrupts our regular routine. Suddenly the smooth path we have been travelling becomes bumpy. How does one cope with such an unexpected turn of events? The other day I started my usual walk down our road. I plodded along, lost in thought about the day’s events, when a flash of orange caught my eye. Looking up I saw a new sign on the side of my usual route that read, “Rough Road.” Surveying the situation more carefully, I saw that a swath of asphalt had been cut out on either side of the bridge leaving two low strips about a foot wide and two inches deep. If I had not been paying attention I would have stumbled and hurt myself. It is easy to think that a Christian’s life will always be an even highway to heaven. We are children of the King, so shouldn’t our lives be easy? This misunderstanding of the journey of faith is a huge reason why many end up turning aside. Moving forward is easy while the path ahead is clear. But as soon as a rough patch surfaces, many abandon the faith with disillusionment. The Bible gives many signposts to warn of rough road, but how do we keep moving forward with such tremendous difficulties before us? Keeping in mind that Jesus our Savior upholds all things by the word of His power is a great comfort. Despite all the forces surrounding us, the Lord has ultimate authority and can control every circumstance with a single word. While our grief with difficult circumstances is very real, we can be assured that each stretch of rough road we encounter is not an error or mistake. We may never understand God’s purposes, but we can be assured that He loves us and feels our pain. Nothing happens without His knowledge and apart from His love. Focus your eyes on Him and He will give you the power to take each step and soon His peace will overshadow your understanding of the circumstances. There is rough road ahead for all who belong to the Lord. Yet we don’t need to fear the rugged path because Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power. Keep your eyes on Him, and despite the rough road, you will make it safely home. Sandra Sheridan is a Midwest wife and mother of five. She shares her messages to her children with Farm World. Visit her at www.VersesFromMama.com |
