Hidden Tears

(elephantjournal.com)

Who knows the sorrows hidden behind joyful smiles and the kisses blown across the miles? Who sees the sadness creep in when loneliness stalks the vulnerable? Who shares in the grief of the broken heart? Who understands the misunderstood? Who reaches out to the lost and the weary? Who watches over the miserable and sings over the barren? Who stands beside the confused and deluded? Who holds onto the desperate? Who speaks to lies and calls them powerless? Who, of Himself, sheds light into total darkness? Who alone, can turn over the dry, parched dirt left unattended and bring life from death?

If you’ve been overlooked, discarded, betrayed; if you’ve died at your own hand or the hand of another, grasp at hope; claw your way to clasp hands with life; cling to what you can’t yet see, but dare to believe.

Where is land more parched than in the valley of death?

May I be - “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” – Mark 1:3 (NIV)

May you see that:

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. – John 12:24 (NIV)

And that:

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6 (NLV)

Despair is sometimes along the path to wholeness; it need not be more than a side trail we get lost on for a moment. Lies are but temptations to look to the left or to the right, keep your eyes on the prize.

If someone tells you that God will meet you halfway, shake it off and know that He will meet you right where you’re at, before you move an inch to help yourself, He is there, reaching His hand out to you –

(turnbacktogod.com)

In Matthew 14 there’s a story I want you to look at closely and consider where you fit in.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” – Matthew 14:25-33 (NIV)

I trust that you'll see it, you'll hear His voice.   –More importantly, God trusts you.