There comes a time in life when we don't want anything from Jesus – though the needs and cares pile high. We simply want to be with him. M.A.
Lovers love to be alone. Leonard Ravenhill
Streams in the Desert remains one of my favorite and beloved devotionals. I don't read it through each year, but there is not a year when it is not picked up many times!
It reads as a witness to the truth of God's word: no matter how hard it gets, you are not alone. God uses trials and tribulations to bring out the gold in us.
But I love it for another reason. Only people who known God deeply can write about enduring storms and tough times with such trust and calm joy.
These are men and women who delight in their Savior, not in getting what they want or seeing their own kingdom built. It is not that they are not bothered by sorrow and difficulties. I think these kinds of people feel those sorrows intensely, the misery penetrates to the core of their being and they don't shy away from it. But their hope is not in outcomes or the allure of creating a happy and secure life.
I want to be like these people.
Sometimes there is a wariness with the idea of becoming like this. You've heard it too – this kind of quiet trust and resilience only comes through the storms.
That's partly true. But it can't be the whole story.
Afterall, you and I have witnessed storms that destroyed people. Destroyed hope and courage, stripped away any and all resilience and inner strength. Faith turned to despair. Hope turned to bitterness.
We've held hands with these dear ones.
Prayed over them and with them.
Some stay and rebuild.
Others walk away.
From God. From faith.
To figure out their own way to do life on their terms.
No, hardships don't automatically bring depth and intimacy.
It's like one wise person said, "storms reveal the roots – or lack of them."
In the Christian world, we've emphasized how trials and hard times deepen our faith – if we participate in the process.
There's good reason for this. Hardships, trials, difficulties, and even miserable situations are not in short supply. They abound!
Pastor Louis Neely, my parents first pastor (after they'd become Christ followers stated), "There are few seasons of life where we're not coming out of problems, going into problems or in the middle of problems!" Unfortunately, that's pretty true.
But there are other ways to discover and live in beautiful closeness to and with Jesus.
A Passion for the Impossible
I feel like I talk about Lilias Trotter a lot. But she so emphasizes the point I'm trying to make: a life of choosing to delight in and with Jesus is a fast track to being close to him, for living in that secure place.
Think of the person you are most close to in the world. Now, maybe this person is no longer here. A grandmother who has passesd away. A childhood friend no longer in your life. They don't have to be present with you now. Think about what it was like to be connected to them.
You knew them well. They knew you well. Life was / is better when they were around.
The good times even more good. The bad times less pain. A sense of companionship and comfort in one another's presence. Conversation picked up from the last time no matter how long it had been between visits. And when you did visit, you stayed for hours and hours.
What was the main marker of the relationship?
Time.
It's impossible to know someone well or gain intimacy without spending time (and a lot of it) with someone.
Lilias Trotter had that relationship with Jesus.
She loved him deeply. Even before she was leading the mission in Algeria, she spent much time with Jesus. He was her priority in her decisions. Prayer time was regular and prayer included praise and adoration. The art she created reflected her love for the Creator. No matter how challenging things got in her life's work, no matter the discouragement and barriers, she always spent a lot of time with Jesus.
One of the things that struck me most was her intention to spend at least two weeks alone with Jesus each year.
Away from work.
Away from writing and correspondeance (our equivalent would be the phone today).
Away from social engagements and "networking."
Alone in intimacy.
She never gives one hint that this time is nothing but wonderful. When she didn't get it, things were off. Let's note: the two weeks alone did not negate the time she spent daily with him.
A Passion for the Impossible
Lilias Trotter's biographer, Miriam Huffman Rockness, named her book: A Passion for the Impossible. An apt title.
Yet, another appropriate name might be, One Who Delighted.
I wonder if there was a connection between Lilias' delight in the Lord and her passion to see the impossible come to life.
Several years ago now I started diving deeper, slower into the Bible. In different places, but often landing in the psalms. Saturating myself in these beloved and often well known scriptures was a gift in many ways. There were areas of deep need. The truths, promises, and teachings were and remain a guide.
Psalm 23 teaches many things but overall: we are not alone but guided, cared for, disciplined and directed by a Good Shepherd, God, who loves us dearly.
Psalm 91 teaches the cause and effect of putting one's trust in God for protection and security instead of striving for these things with our own efforts.
Psalm 143 is a beacon of light when the storms and struggles threaten to capsize our hearts, souls and very lives.
I'm so grateful for the guidance and direction a deep dive these psalms steered me towards.
But sometimes it is good to simply delight. To dive deeper into love. I'm wrestling this out, but maybe, instead of allowing the trials and challenges drive our lives, to put them on the back burner. Not ignored, but not given the drivers seat on the bus.
And to spend time in the garden with God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.
To delight in them.
That's what the upcoming Pray and Paint is all about.
Delighting in Him. Delighting in His word.
What happens when we do that? What would it change in our walk with him? In the rest of our lives?
I think this delight actually leads to a quiet, unmovable confidence. Not in ourselves, but in the one who remains steady and solid in every season, in every generation, for all of time.
These are the ideas we walk through as we go through four sessions of praying and painting in Psalms 111 & 112. It's not a deep dive. As I went through it, I realized what a monster of a topic I was jumping into!
But we get our feet wet. And I hope it inspires you to go deeper into God's word and spend more time with him, pondering his greatness and delighting in his works.
This is the last course I'll be offering at The Creative Season. With the close coming in March, I decided not to charge for this course. If you'd like to take it, I'd love to journey with you through these two amazing psalms. 😊
Sign up here.
