He Is Always Behind Us

Floyd had a quiet time over the Easter weekend as some of his staff were off for the holiday.  I have been asking God to be especially close to him.

As we celebrated Easter this past weekend I found my heart overwhelmed with gratitude.  We face an unprecedented situation in our world right now, but when I think of all that Jesus has done for us - it gives me fresh strength and grace to face the needs we have.  I'm so thankful for the cross.  So thankful that He is risen.  We serve a miracle working God!

The President of South Africa addressed the nation last week and extended our lockdown until the end of April - a further 2 weeks.  He closed his address by saying "the message of Easter is one we carry in our hearts tonight.  It is the message of hope, of recovery, and of rebirth.  We shall overcome.  May God bless South Africa and protect her people."  I pray that for our world as well.

I've been told by various friends around the world that many are struggling with hopelessness.  What we're facing, they say, seems too big, too overwhelming, just simply too much.  But if there's ever a reminder to have hope - it's the Easter weekend as we reflect on what God has done for us through His Son Jesus.  For the followers of Jesus, for His friends and family, for those who only knew Him from afar - Good Friday looked hopeless.  The One they hoped in was crucified.  It looked bleak.

And yet, two days later we know how the story ends.  He conquered death, hell, and the grave.  He arose!  He overcame the darkness and despair.  He showed us that with Him THERE IS HOPE.  Nothing is impossible.  Nothing is too hard for Him.  Nothing is hopeless.

I felt over the weekend that I personally needed to just simply focus on what Jesus has done for us.  That I should encourage you to do the same.  We are not without hope because we serve a God of hope.  Jesus showed the way through His death and resurrection.  As we reflect on that and worship Him for what He did for us, may hope be birthed afresh in all our hearts.  I have fresh hope to believe for miracles in situations around me!

"Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."  Romans 12:12

"Hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he already sees.  But if we have hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."  Romans 8:24,25

"Hope does not disappoint us...."  Romans 5:5

"The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love."  Psalm 147:11

We can have hope because our hope is grounded in God.  The Easter weekend reminds us that our hope is grounded in what Jesus has done for us through the cross and resurrection.

He has gone before us to prepare the way.

He's never left us, never forsaken us, never changed.

He's with us!

He's won over loneliness, over sickness, over despair - over every victory.

He's conquered death.  He's victorious.

Because of who He is and what He's done - we can have hope no matter what we are facing!

Over the Easter weekend, someone sent me this poem that spoke to my heart -  

"Still He Walked"

He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...
He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were His chosen people.
He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened...
His heart was broken,
But still He walked.

He could see the crowd as He came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well.
He had created them.
He knew every smile, every laugh, and every shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger.
His heart broke,
But still He walked.

He searched the crowd for a loving face and He saw very few.
Then he turned His eyes to the only One that mattered,
And He knew that He would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd...
At the people who were spitting at Him
Throwing rocks at Him and mocking Him
And he knew that because of Him,
They would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.

The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.
The sounds of His cries echoed even louder,
The cheers of the crowd, as His hands and feet were nailed to the cross,
Intensified with each blow.
Loudest of all was the still small voice
Inside His Heart that whispered "I am with you, my Son",
And God's heart broke.
He had let His son walk.

Jesus could have asked God to end His suffering,
But instead He asked God to forgive.
Not to forgive Him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting Him.
As He hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And His heart filled with love.
As His body was dying, His heart was alive.
Alive with the limitless, unconditional love He feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.

When I forget how much My God loves me,
...I remember His walk.
When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
...I remember His walk.
When I need to be reminded of how to live like Christ,
...I think of His walk.
And to show Him how much I love Him,
...I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to Him,
.......And I walk.

Author Unknown

I have read this poem a number of times.  When I face a difficult moment, I thank Him that He walked.  When things seem big, overwhelming - I remember that He walked.  When I need fresh strength and grace, I'm reminded that He walked.  Because He walked......we can stand - we can face whatever comes into our day.

I'm so very, very grateful that He walked!  I celebrated that walk all through the Easter weekend.

"And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha."  John 19:17

When you face a tough moment - remember He walked for you!

Because He walked - He is always behind us in anything we face!