Encouragement From the Flock

"I, even I Am He who comforts you"

For the past several months, I have been walking through The Valley, growing and learning, sometimes getting stuck when I wander off the path, then recovering, with whispers of guidance from the Lord.  At times I feel raw, exposed, inflexible, unmoldable.  Regardless of how I feel, I find that God is faithful; waiting for me to be ready for His shaping.

Recently, just within days of the attack on our America, my husband and I packed up our middle child, age 17, and moved him to California.  This had been in the planning stages since June and in Wayne's dreams since he trained his first pony at age 8.  I prayed for God to close the doors.  But God answered "No" to my selfishness, and "Yes" to relinquishment.  "No" to life going on as before, going on as planned; "Yes" to change and family restructuring; "Yes" to an empty bedroom.

I would never trade the trip to California to see Wayne settled.  It reassures me and gives me peace to know that he is in a good place, in safe hands and loving what he is doing.

But I miss him.  I miss our late night chats, his dry sense if humor, his keen insight and political savvy.  I miss the rare and cherished hugs.  I grieve the physical distance between us.  Sadly, I have a hard time recalling his growing up.  When did it happen? How did it happen so quickly?  Why can't I remember more of those times?

God meets me in this Valley, and reminds me, "I, even I am He who comforts you."  In thisunsafe time and place, I can trust my son and myself to the eternal safety of my Father's hands.  He is faithful.  He is near to those of a broken heart. No need for comfort or encouragement -unless we become uncomfortable or discouraged -no need for healing if we are never broken.  He knows what we need to know of Him, what we need from Him.

Oswald Chambers, on October 4, in "My Utmost, for His Highest,"  writes... "Thank God for the sight of all you have never yet been.  You have had the vision, but you are not there yet by any means.  It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back.  We are not quite prepared for the blows which must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision.  We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to have the vision 'batter'd to shape and use' by God?  the batterings always come in commonplace ways and through commonplace people."

I am thankful that God has a plan, not only for my son, but for me as well.  "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."   I am so thankful that He loves you and me.

In Christ's Comfort,

Kay Robison