The Journey

 

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. (Psalm 91:9-13 ESV).

 

Mary and I love to travel. Most of the time we have been together on our journeys, though there have been times when she accompanied her sister, and I was traveling with others on various mission trips. We have been privileged to see much of our world. I must confess I have always liked being there more than getting there. Often the journey itself was tedious and merely a means to an end. All of these “trips” are a part of our journey. All of us have had opportunities to go on trips, even if just for a day or two. Each in their own way has become a part of the mosaic we call life.

 

Have you noticed that the time spent on these journeys comes both from planned and unplanned events and circumstances? Our travels can be caused by events that prompt us or even force us to go and experience new things. Whatever the case, we need to know that at the end of our final trip there is a place where we can belong, a place we can call home.

 

The Christian life is like that. At times we can journey along peacefully, enjoying the blessings of comfort and joy that Christ brings. At other times we can feel stretched and challenged and even uprooted in our spiritual life. Though challenges can help us grow in faith, we need to know that along the way God is always with us.

 

Thankfully, the God who calls us to have faith in his Son, Jesus Christ, always cares for us, promising never to leave or forsake us. This is the God of grace and forgiveness, who fills us with his Spirit and welcomes us to enjoy life in his presence, giving us a place to call home wherever we may be. For the next few days, as we approach a New Year, we will reflect on these things as we explore some of the Bible’s passages about home.