I went for a walk early one morning last week. It was dark and foggy. But, with coffee in hand, I kept walking. Without really even noticing, by the time I got home, the fog had cleared and the sun was coming up. I took a minute to check and see if my roof was still ice-damming (that’s another story!) and a couple of other things on the outside of the house that I couldn’t see earlier. Huh. When did it get light enough to see clearly? I’m not sure, but I took advantage of it.
A few days earlier, I had heard that Ron Kenoly, a well-known worship leader in the 90s, had passed away. He had so many incredible songs, but there was one that I thought was so dumb. It’s called “Go Ahead” and the lyrics are: If you catch hell don’t hold it / If you’re going through hell don’t stop / You go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, don’t stop! That sounded ridiculous to me, even if I understood what he was trying to say. I now know that it is a quote from Malcolm X, but this was before Google.
When I realized that I was now walking around my house being able to see after leaving a half hour earlier in the dark, I found myself singing, “If you catch hell, don’t hold it; if you’re going through hell, don’t stop.” Thanks, Ron Kenoly.
This theme has been coming up as we study The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). When we face our poverty of spirit, grief, and hunger/thirst, or experience conflict or trouble, we can feel like stopping, quitting, hiding, or retreating. But if we just keep walking, keep trusting the Lord, keep bringing every moment of every day to Him, my experience tells me that Isaiah 61 is right. The sun will rise around you, and you will be able to see clearly.
Take a moment to meditate on this promise from scripture that Jesus told us that He fulfilled.
Isaiah 61:1-4
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
There is blessing in every season because we serve Jesus. Praying that the sun would rise around you today, no matter what you’re walking through. (And, I guess, if you catch hell, don’t hold it!)
Pastor Tracy
THIS SUNDAY
SUNDAY, March 1 @ 10am
LEARN / UNLEARN
About Longing
Tracy Dunham
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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!
10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)