The book that sits by my bed right now is called "Pursue the Intentional Life" by Jean Fleming. The chapter I read today was called Romanticizing the Life of Faith.
Jean speaks of watching a hawk soar in the sky above the mountains, and how it is the desire of her soul to soar always with Christ, to live her life well and for his glory.
Then she asks a few questions.......
Was Jesus soaring when he wept great tears of blood in Gethsemane?
Did He soar when he pleaded with the Father for some other path?
Was Paul soaring when he spoke in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 of despairing of life itself?
Did David soar when he pretended to be crazy and drooled in his beard, out of fear for his life? (1st Samuel 21: 12-13)
She goes on to write of how we can often romanticize our Christian walk, as if to be a Christian means one should always soar above grief, discouragement, fear and pain and how when we do this we are perverting God's intention.
She speaks of King David and his writings in the Psalms,
" my heart is in anguish within me;"
"the terrors of death have fallen on me."
"fear and trembling have beset me."
"horror has overwhelmed me."
"I said, Oh that I had the wings of a dove."
"I would fly away and be at rest."
"I would flee far away."
"and stay in the desert."
"I would hurry to my place of shelter far from the tempest and storm."
And how he ends with these words......." But as for me, I trust in You."
"His love will not let me go. I find refuge in Him, and I soar. I soar in the growing knowledge and experience of God Himself...........The Lord meets me in my squall. Life's storms and stresses draw me closer to Him."
Then she speaks of the Albatross, a majestic bird in flight, able to spend months and months at sea, this bird can reach an eleven foot wingspan and it glides above storm tossed waters. It NEEDS storm winds to keep aloft. In calm seas they are virtually unable to get airborne........and more amazing is their behavior on land, there they are called Goonie Birds, because they flop about in a most ungraceful manner.
"Ironically, to soar I must taste my weakness and need. In the turbulence of life, I reach out to God."
Our God knows us, He knows our weaknesses, He knows that we will not always soar on wings of eagles.
She goes on to remind us that:
He gives strength to the weary.
He increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary.
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
they will run and not grow weary.
they will walk and not be faint.
We will all have moments when we soar above it all, moments when we run this race with speed and vigor, moments when we walk, moments when we stumble, and moments when we fall.
"even when I'm barely hanging on, trust that when there is almost nothing of me left, He will show up most powerfully."
She ends this chapter with this powerful prayer
" Father God, please keep me from distorted ideas of what it means to walk with You. In my deep desire to live on the heights, keep me from romanticizing what that looks like. At this point, I think soaring is trusting that You can glorify Yourself through me no matter what. The only limiting factor is me, and glory of glories, You can use me in spite of myself, just as You have used other frail, flailing failures such as Jonah, Gideon, Peter and every other human You used through the ages. Grace, grace, amazing grace.
When hard times come-----confusing times, faltering times-----encircle me with Your protective, sustaining care. Remember my intended wing and catch me up again on the strong currents of mercy and grace-----Your faithfulness, not mine, Your life in me. You know my weak humanity, and its not a problem to You. You prefer me weak and trusting so Your grace might be unfettered. Praise upon praise to Your Holy Name."
We all struggle at times and as Christians we need to be real about life's struggles.
The link to Jean Fleming's book:
 | Pursue the Intentional Life: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12)~ Jean Fleming (author) More about this product
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