| devotional by: Laura Story |
Added: 03-19-2008 |
Perfect Peace
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Have you ever done a ropes course? A camp that I used to attend every summer had one. Despite my ridiculous fear of heights, one year I was talked into trying it. Since I was kind of a baby about it, I talked the instructor into staying with me the entire time. I distinctly remember the very highest rope (maybe forty feet?) that we had to walk across, holding onto nothing but these Tarzan-looking ropes suspended above me. The instructor, who insisted on walking a few steps ahead of me (rather than carrying me across on his back), cautioned me to keep my eyes on him at all times. And whatever I did, under no circumstances was I to look down at the ground.
This never made much sense to me. It was in fact the ground that I feared the most. Not the ground itself, of course, but me hitting the ground and breaking my neck. If the ground was the source of my fear, why not look at it, making sure that it wasn’t coming any closer to me? Patiently, my instructor again reminded me that there was nothing productive in looking at the ground. I was to keep my eyes on him at all times, keep trusting and keep following. Stopping to look at the ground, in fact, actually slowed down my progress. We eventually completed the course and I vowed to never step foot off of God’s green earth again.
Though I have not attempted a ropes course since then, I continue to benefit from the lessons I learned that day. When walking through life feels more like tip-toeing across a tightrope, it really doesn’t help to look down. Though the problems of life seem overwhelming, thinking on them constantly only causes more anxiety and takes our eyes off of where we should be looking. Do we desire a steadfast mind? Keep our eyes on Him. Do we desire perfect peace? Rest our gaze on the Lord, our Prince of Peace. I’ll close with words from one who said it far better than I ever could.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
- Edward Mote
O Lord, please help me to keep my eyes on You this day, my solid Rock forever.
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