Dancing with Jesus

Dancing with Jesus

By Holly Fisher August 8, 2014

Walked along with my head held down

   Worries and fears made me frown.

I grumbled and complained –

   Could only hear myself talk.

Yet You stayed with me,

   Listened and smiled as we walked.

My eyes were gazed

   at the rocks on the ground

Oblivious to the fact

   You’d not made a sound.

You listened to my rants

   and waited patiently,

All the while leading me

   to a place you wanted me to see.

Lord, you got my attention when

   You took my hand...

Abruptly stopping –

   You asked me to dance.

At these words

   I looked up from the ground,

And in Your eyes

   Peace I found.

I took Your hands

   And we began to dance,

Forgetting my cares and circumstance.

Joy filled my heart

   And my spirit had life.

We danced in love

   Like husband and wife.

Gracefully moving

   You spun me around,

I stood amazed,

   Not making a sound.

Lord, even in my distress

   You still lead my steps!

My heart now humbled,

   I wept and wept.

For, before my eyes

   Was a sight to behold!

 “That’s the bigger picture!”

   Is what I was told.

“Don’t give up

   From the struggles of life,

Remember our dance

   When you deal with strife.”

Then You pointed in the direction

   You wanted me to go…

“The journey will teach

   What you need to know.

Remember I’m beside you

   Every step of the way.

I’ll get you back on track

   If you wander astray.

The journey is easier

   When we can dance,

It keeps your eyes

   Off your circumstance.

You’ll enjoy your blessings

   Along the way

And less likely

   You’ll be lead astray.

So, are you ready to go

   Where the Father has planned?

Then step out in faith, trust Me

   And take My hand!”

With but a nod of my head

   And nothing to say,

I turned towards the path

   As He lead the way.

I’ll be dancing with Jesus

   Trusting He’ll be my guide.  

Believing His promise

   To always be by my side.

Coping with the storms of life

Rain storms can be a good thing for our environment.  They are a necessity for nature.  Lightening provides nitrogen; rain nourishes and cleanses the earth.  There's many more benefits of storms but I'm not going to get into all of that here.  But what about the storms of life and the parallels from natures storms and our own?

Some have said (myself included) that they love a good thunderstorm.  This is certainly true when I am tucked safely in my home.  But driving in such a storm can bring on deep anxiety and stress.  A thunderstorm can put a damper on outside events because it can bring unexpected dangers.  Our first response with such storms is to find safety.  Whether getting out of the water when there's lightening or pulling off the road when the rain is falling so hard your vision is limited.  Whatever the situation we all instinctly protect ourselves from natures severe thunder storms.

What about the storms of life?  How does one prepare for those?  I don't know that we can, but rather get through them and wait them out.  Many of us have encountered many storms in our lives from financial strains and losses, to death, illness, disease, accidents, crimes, etc.  Yet, more often then not, most of us tend to get through them one way or another.  Still, there are so many emotions we encounter in the meantime:  fear, frustration, anger, confusion, sorrow, grief, anxiety, discouragement, hopelessness and more I'm sure.  How do we cope?  How do we allow ourselves to "feel" without letting our feelings take over?

Lord, my prayer to You is for peace through the storms of life.  It's so easy to get so focused on the circumstances that we lose our peace and get tossed around like wild waves in an hurricane.  You are the Lighthouse on the Rock I look to in the midst of the chaos, and I pray that as You call out to me in the darkness of the storm that I can hear and turn towards Your light.  Instead of fighting and kicking the torrential waves, help me to ride them until I am safe in Your presence, standing on a firm foundation.  I pray for hope to illuminate my heart and mind so I can with confidence trust the sun will shine on me again.

Lord, we can't avoid the storms of life because they just happen.  But my heart asks of Yours to be merciful and patient towards my own when I struggle with doubt and discouragement.  My promise to You is that I will praise you through the storms and trust You work all things out for the good to those who love you.  Thank You for the seasons in our lives that cultivate faith, trust, hope and courage.  Thank You for Your promise that no matter how dark our trials are You will never leave us or forsake us.  Although we may not understand, we can have peace in knowing You see the greater picture...the finished one.