Seeing Through the Fog

I had a sweet visit with Floyd recently.  My first time to see him since my surgery.  I finally had enough energy to go to him.  I was blessed with a sweet smile.  It warmed my heart.  I caught him up on all my news, and shared what various ones in our family are walking through.  There were a few tearful moments, some sweet moments of smiles, and I prayed together with him.  The doctor came in to check him while I was there, and said that his lungs are clear and sound good.  I told Floyd that many people are sending love and are praying for him.  I always hope that he understands that, and that he'll be blessed by it.

As I'm continuing to pray and seek the Lord for the way ahead, I've become so keenly aware of how much I need the Lord's direction and guidance.  Corrie ten Boom said that "faith is like a radar that sees through the fog."  I feel like I'm surrounded by fog - information, ideas, suggestions, opinions - all swirling around me.  I'm stirring up my faith, my hope in God's goodness and faithfulness and asking Him to clear away the foggy mists in front of me.

I need His direction and I need His peace.  So often I've seen that the "peace that passes understanding" is what carries me through the hard times.  Without trials, there aren't victories - and yet when walking through the trials it's often hard to sense His peace.  I find I have to continually surround myself with His promises, with verses about His character and goodness, in order to balance out the trials and find peace.  Worship becomes a lifeline in holding onto peace.

When I'm trying to get clarity and direction, it's easy for fear to enter in.  I heard the phrase "don't let fears get in the way of your dreams."  My dream at the moment is to persevere on this unexpected journey.  I find the biggest fear is of making a mistake in the decisions I'm making.  That's where I have to cling tightly to God's hand.  I have to stay close to Him, and stay in constant communication with Him.  My constant prayer is for Him to help me, to guide me, and to give me peace.

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way."  2 Thessalonians 3:16

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."  Psalm 143:8

"Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors."  Psalm 27:11

"Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence."  Psalm 42:5

"Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me."  Micah 7:7

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  John 10:27

"The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time."  Psalm 34:19

He is so faithful to meet us, to help us, and to guide us.  

While I have been praying for the Lord to clear away the foggy mists in front of me, we have actually had some very foggy mornings!  The fog has been so thick - I could hardly see the street just a short ways in front of us.  I know there are lots of houses out there.  I know there's ocean.  I know there are beautiful trees.  And I know there's mountains.  I've seen them all - but I couldn't see them through the fog!  All I could see was the gray, thick, swirling mist.

As I've looked at this scene for a few mornings.....I've realized there's a lesson there.  We know God's ways.  We know His goodness.  We know His character and faithfulness.  We know the truth of His word, His promises.  But sometimes the circumstances of life are like the thick fog.  They cloud the view of what we know is there!  We can't see what's there because of the fog.

I realized that when the foggy situations of life come along to cloud our view - we have to hang on to what we know is really there.  We can't let the fog define our view!  We have to remember what we know is through the fog.

I think this is where faith and trust come in.  My faith has to see beyond the fog to what I know God has provided for me.  And I have to declare my absolute trust in Him in spite of the heavy fog.

I'm doing this daily now!  There is a lot of "fog" surrounding several of the important decisions I'm needing to make.  I'm walking by faith through the fog, and speaking out my trust in our wonderful, faithful God.  He's the One who can dispel the fog and bring back the sunshine.

"We walk by faith, not by sight."  2 Corinthians 5:7

"You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light."  2 Samuel 22:29

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:18

"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."  Proverbs 23:18

I need God's help.  I trust Him to lead me.

As I've been praying and seeking the Lord for direction for the decisions I'm making - the process has become heavy and weighty.  My heart has felt burdened down with the bigness of the decisions.

A few days ago as I was praying, I felt the Lord spoke to me that I've become too focused on the decisions......and I need to keep my focus on Him.  I was becoming off balance in my focus.  I remembered that Sarah Young said "gaze at Me; glance at problems."  I think I was beginning to get it backwards.

The decisions are big ones, and the weight of having to come up with answers was constantly intruding on my thoughts.  I have chosen instead to try and keep my thoughts, my attention, my focus on the Lord - while lifting up my need for answers to Him.  It may seem like a subtle shift, but it's an important one!

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:18

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12:2

"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."  2 Chronicles 20:12

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."  Isaiah 26:3

"Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word."  Psalm 119:37

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?"  Psalm 121:1

"My eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenceless."  Psalm 141:8

When my mind strays to the decisions I'm facing and the problems I'm having to work through, I get my focus back on who God is.....and humbly ask His help with all I'm facing.  It truly helps to look at the hard things in light of how awesome God is!