A bit overwhelmed this morning. A week ago my Tuesday started out very normal . . . a week later, looking back, there has been nothing normal about the past 7 days. What a trip! Not even a blip on my radar seven days ago . . . no clue of what anguish (a word given to me by a close friend . . . a very appropriate word) and uncertainty Tuesday night and Wednesday would bring . . . no inkling of the hope that would start to emerge late Wednesday night . . . and the joy that would come Thursday morning . . . and the awe that would envelop throughout Friday . . . the “pinch me, has this all been real” during the weekend . . . and finally, “It’s good to be home” of Monday. A week indeed . . . not planned by me . . . but I have no doubt, purposed by Him.

I drank deeply this morning . . . stuffed myself with multiple days readings . . . a few things have touched me . . .

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. . . . A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?” (Proverbs 19:21, 20:24 ESV)

We had our plans . . . He had His purpose. We thought they were our steps, but they were directed of the Lord. Do I fully get the “why?” . . . not really, but in many ways, not all that important. Suffice to know His presence . . . sufficient to rest in His Sovereign determinations . . . blessed to know His abiding presence. Looking back, the ancient wisdom of Solomon rings so true . . . oh that I might move forward with such a perspective . . . ready, in a sense, for the unexpected . . . knowing, as another friend reminded me this week, that He leads me beside still water.

And I found this gem in Isaiah . . .

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” (Isaiah 7:9b ESV)

I’ve been thinking about this, on and off, the last couple of days. It’s not just about “my faith” but about what my faith is in. The unshifting part of this last week hasn’t been my ability to believe . . . but about Who I have believed in . . . “for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2Tim. 1:12 NKJV). The foundation has not been my mental ability to “think good thoughts”, but His faithfulness . . . His promise to never leave (Heb. 13:5) . . . . His promise to be our refuge and strength, and to be an very present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1). On Christ the solid Rock I stand . . . all other ground is sinking sand! Thank you, Lord that you are the object of my faith . . . I do believe . . . help my unbelief.

And then there was Hebrews 2 and 3 . . . but we see Jesus!

For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers . . . Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:10-11, 14-15 ESV)

He has been the friend that sticks closer than a brother this week . . . He has been the One who has said, “I know what it’s like . . . been there . . . trust me!” . . . the One who, while I wept at the thought of separation, provided freedom from the fear and bondage of the power of death. Oh, to know Christ . . . to rest in God’s purposes . . . by His amazing grace . . . and for His all-deserved glory! Yup . . . a bit overwhelming.