perhaps every heart ever beating knows this place. the place where comfort meets uncomfort. that place of knowing you are indeed stepping from one zone to another. from the comfort zone of comfortableness to the uncomfort zone of uncomfortableness and not always is the zone of comfort necessarily truly comfortable. sometimes it is simply familiar. yet familiarity can become far too comfortable, and so the zone of the familiar eventually becomes the zone of comfort. at times the comfort zone is so very comfortable that the zonee is blissfully unaware. I know. I have been there. and once aware, He has had me in a season of stillness and quietness and listening. learning to hear the whisper soft with which He speaks to my heart.
and I know He is calling me to leave my zone of comfort. to be willing to be stretched even if that stretching brings pain. and to live this life with eyes open to see those around me through the lens of love. nothing more. nothing less. for love at its purest can be neither more nor less than love so pure. and no one could better know that love than Abba Himself, for He is love defined. and was it not that love which prompted Him to send His only Son, knowing what lie ahead in the cross, where He would turn His face away? no greater zone of uncomfort could possibly exist. and the result of the Father's love was seen in the life of Jesus. hands which created all now wore our skin. He touched those seen as untouchable. He walked with those seen as undesirable. His compassion and tenderness for the weak and poor and lost and weary was the love of the Father pouring out through His Son. and that love which is Jesus allows my heart to see the very heart of my Abba, who is that love so pure... no more. no less. simply love. and oh the comfort lying in a love which can be no more nor less than love itself, for does that not mean that I can be no more nor less, because I wear that love so pure? and when I dare step into that place of uncomfortableness, failure is literally impossible if that love is the driving force! for never does He seek perfection. instead He seeks a heart willing... willing to bend low. willing to walk in another's shoes. willing to put aside all that distracts.
and simply love. and I find myself crossing from the zone of comfort into the zone of uncomfort. and now that I have tasted and seen life fully alive in His love, I will never go back, for I cannot untaste or unsee that which I have tasted and seen. and all the glory goes to the One who is life defined.
when what a heart has to offer seems an offering far too small... is that perhaps a place of potential beauty? is that not perhaps the moment when Abba shows Himself strong and faithful? and once a heart admits the call is beyond the capabilities at hand is that not the exact time when He will be most glorified? and in the offering of what seems beyond one's capabilities beyond one's resources is that not truly giving a sacrifice of praise? and for an offering to be a sacrifice must it not involve giving that which is not easy to give?
a song in the dark of night when all seems lost is a sacrifice of praise. daring to walk in faith when fear threatens to keep one from following the call is a sacrifice of praise. daring to say thank you for His blessings even when the heart is broken into shards and slivers of glass is a sacrifice of praise. and giving financially when numbers don't add up is a sacrifice of praise. raising arms high with hands empty and heart abandoned to the only One worthy of praise is a sacrifice of praise. and the sacrifice of praise never stops praising in that place where sacrifice collides with praise and His glory shines brightly for all to see.
it is well. even when nothing actually feels very well. it is well because He says it is well. and if He says it is so, it is so. for is that not what faith is? believing even when it hurts. believing even when it makes no sense. because sense can rarely be made by those who are not writing the story or composing the song. for only the Author knows what the next chapter holds and how the story line will unfold. and only the Composer knows what notes and rhythms intervals and chords harmonies and melodies are yet to be performed in the symphony of life. and the beat underlying all is the beat of His heart. and His heartbeat constant will remain. so it is well. it is well with my soul.
footprints... every step ever taken leaves a footprint. some are visible... others are not. a footprint can lead to an act of love so tender... often difficult to trace as those who live with love typically tread with love... often on tiptoe. a footprint can also lead to pain and despair and oh so often the heart lives with regret over footprints past. footprints regretted. footprints outlined with guilt. and oh how the heart longs to sweep away those footprints so painful. so the heart lives life walking backward with broom in hand attempting to erase. attempting to at least look a little better.
I know because this was me. but our Abba did not intend for us to live leaving backward footprints. for how will we see the beauty of the now when focused on the past? and how will we follow in HIS footprints if we are looking the wrong direction? and the beauty so dazzling is this: His footprints can be seen from the beginning of time in the orchestra of creation. His footprints are seen throughout the years as His love poured down like rain. the footprints most staggering to trace are those of His Son. those footprints walked the very dust He created. those footprints were stained with blood so red as He walked the road to the cross. His blood poured down like the rain. and more beauty so shimmering? His footprints of grace cover all. my missteps. my crushing steps. my shame-filled steps. my guilt-filled steps. my reckless steps. my painful steps. steps intentional? at times. but more often than not unintentional yet even footprints unintentional leave a print. yet all those steps are swept away with the force of His grace! His love leaves no mistake or sin uncovered. and as a result I am free to walk leaving footprints facing forward... following in HIS steps of love therefore leaving a legacy of footprints spilling over with the joy and peace of His love.
another precious baby is in heaven. another beautiful 4 year old dances with Jesus. and another priceless 4 year old battles cancer. anniversaries of the days when little ones took their last breath on earth and first breath in heaven come annually as a reminder painful that someone is missing. oh it is not only the little ones for when this life ends no matter the age tears fall. even hearts with hope of heaven ache and weep and mourn. for it hurts. badly. and not only death grips the heart. all one needs do is look around. darkness can seem stifling. hope can seem gone. planes fall out of the sky. families run from home and country to escape war only to find danger ahead. children are hungry and many succumb to that hunger as mothers' arms hold tightly. and tears fall like the rain. children are discarded or abused or enslaved and really are some things not worse than death? and the list could go on and on for so many live life desperately seeking to fill an emptiness all-consuming. so what is the heart to do? for even the heart knowing hope and knowing that our Abba is holding all can at times feel a heaviness so very heavy.
this is the time to stop. breathe. listen. "My child, I am speaking out of the storm. each wave threatening to pull you under is really designed to pull you into My arms. and I still calm the water. and I still hold your heart. and I still gather your tears. and all that swirls around you is still controlled by My hand. when you simply cannot understand. when you simply cannot comprehend. when you feel your life seemingly lies in shattered pieces at your feet just look up. look into My eyes. see a love fathomless. let Me hold you in My arms. let Me carry your heart. let Me take all that you carry on your shoulders for My shoulders are strong. and My child, I did not create you to carry such a load. let My peace wash over you. let My comfort surround you. let My presence overwhelm you. and know, My beloved one, that you are never alone. for you are Mine."
