2. The beauty of the moment

Journeys > 2. The beauty of the moment

At the moment we are waiting; waiting with the hushed quiet of the calm before the storm; waiting to see the mountain that is to appear before us. For now, we’ve decided to tell nobody about what is happening. Intuitively, it’s as if Holy Spirit is drawing me into a place of safety. Our equipment for the ascent needs to be in place. Our equipment is God’s word. For despite the wealth of data I have no doubt the god of google will possess, right now all I can focus on, are the promises of what God has to say about this. The truth we stand on pierces through and brings illumination to the only thing we really need to know. God has me in the palm of His hands - the sense of this is unshakeable. This rock is as sturdy as the granite face we may be about to climb.

I’m reminded of when Jacob was five months old – a time when he fractured his skull.  Long story short, there were many hours of not knowing if he had bleeding on the brain and a threat to his life. That day I touched desperation and horror and it literally felt like spiritual warfare was raging. I’ll never forget the sheer depth of gratitude in my heart when we knew he was going to be fine.  Right now, the warfare feels as potent, but the gratitude is also as strong. It’s as if my very life depends on God and I know that as we pray healing into being, He will prevail – my heart, my spirit and my very soul are lifted in adoration.

If I didn’t know God, if He didn’t know me, if He wasn’t with me now, I know I would be terrified. This just increases my thankfulness all the more. In this moment I recognise the hallmarks of a joy that lifts my very soul and I realise I’m no longer rushing to see what the mountain looks like. Instead, all I want to do is hold my gaze here: This view, this beauty, this reality captivates my attention and captivates my heart.

‘When you pass through the waters,    I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze’                                                                                                          Isaiah 43:2 NIV