25 Days of Advent: Forged for our Hope – Day 14

As I turned my head to focus my attention upon a task I needed to finish, I uttered a few words heavenward. I find that this is often the posture of my prayers. Most often I catch myself talking aloud to Jesus attempting to carry a conversation though I know He is just sitting patiently listening to my rambling.

As I peppered my Lord with questions and genuine heart-felt prayers, the Holy Spirit brought to the forefront of my mind a time of intimate and intense prayer during a difficult season of life. I lamented before the throne, crying out to Jesus asking why we had hit a wall in several areas of our life.

The small still voice inside my heart spoke to my wayward soul bringing with it immeasurable peace. It would be a good amount time before I would understand His words and meaning behind His actions during the seemingly long season.

Beloved, you have not hit a wall. I am clearing the path.

Sometimes the forging can leave one feeling like there isn’t much left inside to withstand the heat and pressure. The forging may leave one feeling like a wanderer in a vast and lonely wilderness. We have more questions than answers and the path seems oddly crooked. There are mountains to climb, valleys of harsh weather to endure, and emotional storms that need to pass. The ground is hard and rough, and we can feel the heat of the forging taking its toll leaving our bones parched and dry.

Under pressure our faith seems to slip a little from our fingers. Perhaps that’s because when we packed for the journey, we shoved our most vital and greatest weapon in the bottom of the bag. Somehow we managed to shove God’s promises under layers of this and that, causing us to rummage frantically trying to find them in the moment we are in need of them.

No, God never promised an easy journey. He promised a Messiah that would go before us to prepare the path for the journey.

Isaiah 40:3-5, A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Hindsight nearly always offer us perfect vision of the journey. I was unaware that the path the Lord was clearing- the path the Lord was preparing- was of the emotional kind. I was unaware that there were bits and pieces of shrapnel needled into my heart. And I was unaware that there were specific long-forgotten parts of my soul the Lord desired to fortify and strengthen.

In the Gospel of Luke we find John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness where he encountered the Word of God. He then went into all the region around the Jordan proclaiming to the people a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of their sin. Many in the crowds grew restless of heart and confused that perhaps John might be the Christ. John was quick to assure the people that the One coming was mightier than he and would baptize His people in His Holy Spirit.

Luke 3:3-6, He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

John the Baptist was preparing the way for one who was both man and God. Long before His ministry began and God was ready to sacrifice His Son, the path for Jesus’ purpose was prepared.

We are forged for our hope when we can recognize the works of Christ not only preparing the path, but preparing us to journey the path. Christ desires our success in His mission as much as we do, but we must remember that only He is able to see all that will hinder us causing us to stumble. There may be bits and pieces of shrapnel needled into our hearts, thorns in our side, and parts of us that need to be strengthened and fortified.

And the journey isn’t only ours for our journey will always encounter the path of another. And He weaves all those paths together for the good of us who love Him; the good of us who are called for His purposes and not our own.

Father, I may not be able to see the destination, but I know that you have gone before me to prepare the way. Help me to remember to always pack your promises at the top of the bag so that I never need to rummage to find them for I’ll always know where they are. In Jesus name, amen.