I’m relaxing in a cabin high up in the Tennessee mountains with my best friend. We’ve spent the past few days watching movies, finding stepping stones across babbling creeks, and riding roller coasters; some of the most restful, fun times we’ve had the opportunity to take in over a year. As we spend time in each other’s company, we turn on one of our favorite songs: Shoulders by The Arcadian Wild. The song is a peaceful “thank you” to a loved one who has helped shape the singer’s life into who he is at the present. But later on in the song, I notice,  it makes some pointed references to the Bible, and I believe the songwriter may have moved from singing to a loved one to singing to Jesus:

I watched You bear that cross upon Your back

All along an ancient path.

You showed me how to find my way back home,

And I have never walked alone.

I’m standing on Your shoulders. 

You turn my green to golden.

It still comes as a surprise,

Whenever I look into Your eyes.

Without fail, I always find the man I want to be.

I cannot count the times You’ve caught me from a fall.

I hear Your voice when my back’s up against a wall.

When the darkness makes me feel like I am far away from You,

You gently remind me that this never was nor will be true.

Something about that last sentence makes it ring in my ears long after the song finishes playing. 

There have been many times in my life (and, I daresay, in yours,) that the ill circumstances have made it seem as though God is far off. That the promises that He will always be near aren’t real enough to help me out in my time of need. 

So, what is real? My experience, or God’s promise?

My experience highlights when things went out of my control. When I got hurt, or my loved ones were hurt. When the unknown loomed ahead and a chasm of doubts creeped steadily nearer.

My experience also knows of the ends of those highlighted memories. God was still in control of the out-of-my-control. God grew me, and drew me closer to Himself. He gathered my loved ones in His own loving arms. He gave me a lamp for my next step, and the next, and the next, and there was always firm ground He made for me to step forth onto.

But for some reason, the part of my brain that makes choices best remembers the first section, the hard things. The feelings of loneliness, discomfort, unease, doubt, and fear.

If the second section is true, and I need not fear that God’s promises will fail, how do I make the mind shift that will make the truth and good shine brighter than the bad?

‘When the darkness makes [you] feel like [God is] far away from [you],’ savor the momentary dark as a moment to think of nothing but the Light. In your darkest hours, He will make Himself manifest. Be thankful for the silence, because in the silence, you will know rather than hear His voice. He will remind you of His promises by calling them to your mind. 

He will never leave or forsake you. He is with you. He has not given you a fearful spirit, but the Holy Spirt Who is His power, His love, and His sound mind. When you ask for wisdom, he will give you heavenly wisdom in so great a quantity that you can echo the Psalmist in saying, “My cup runneth over.” And goodness and mercy will follow you all your life, and your eternal house is that of the Lord’s. 

Read that again. Take it to heart, and take heart. He is within you, so you need not fear your past experiences.

Now take up a stone. Write a journal entry. Make a note and stick it on your mirror or your refrigerator. This day God showed His word to be more real, and more true, and better, than your past. Than what your eyes have seen. God’s eyes have seen your whole story, and today, you are trusting Him to hold it. So write it down, and tomorrow when He proves Himself again, write it down again, and the next day, and the next. Don’t ever stop making Ebenezers- remembrances- of the good God has done in you and for you.

You will never regret remembering God. I never have. It’s the best way to walk life’s journey.

In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.

I’ll see you along the way!

–Elliyah