Forty Years Plus

Today I read a blog from my sister and it once again brought home to me how precious is this journey of life we make, when we make it in the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the latter part of it she quoted Nehemiah 9:20-21 and then made the following statement. As I stared at this scripture, I thought about my own journey with the Lord.

“For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.” Nehemiah 9:20-21

“As I walk the streets of Brandon today I realize that what I thought would kill me has only made me stronger. My feet are not swollen as I’ve walked through season after season, through times of heartache and times of amazing joy. This place is not what it was before, but then neither am I!”

A little over 40 years ago I gave my life to the Lord. At that time I was a young lady in desperate needs of a Savior. What I thought was going to be the beginning of a perfect life, began the journey of desert walking. I read the scripture over and over. I began to retrace those steps of my life as a baby Christian, as I kicked against obedience and wanting to do it my way, instead of His way. Of the many times, I did not think I could possibly wait for the answers and wanted so out of the desert.

I remember that significant night some 23 years prior as I lay in the floor of my living room, begging God to just kill me there. That I knew He could not want a failure like me. For over and over I had fallen on my face. How He wrapped me in His arms and healed my broken spirit and taught me to love Him and embrace His Word – My most cherished love letter, from my Abba Father.

Even then the desert walk did not end, but with each step I grew and embraced Him more. He has sustained me – over and over again. He guided and directed my footsteps. You are so right my precious sister. "This place is not what it was before, but then neither am I!”

Whatever it is that you are walking through today, embrace your desert walk and know that He will sustain you and you will not be what you were before either.