As I read in Matthew the other day, I read this in verse 28, Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
I began to think again about how my kids COME TO ME when they need to get down that hallway because they know that I will be able to help them. And that made me think of this...
How many "dark hallways" do we try to approach all by ourselves? How many situations, negative reports, challenges, fears do we face all by ourselves? We all face dark hallways in our lives....but with each hallway we face, we have a choice...do we go through the hallway in darkness or do we turn on the light? You see when the hall remains dark, we end up walking slowly through the hallway, scared that we will stumble on something, unsure of what our next step will hold, feeling our way around trying to get to our destination. But, if we would simply turn on the light, we would clearly see all the obstacles in our way, we would know how to get around them, and then we would arrive at our destination peacefully and without fear. This seems so simple, right? So...let's apply this common sense natural principle to our spiritual lives....
Who is the light? Who will light up the dark hallways that we face? Jesus tells us in the verse we just read...it is Him. Jesus says - COME TO ME. Jesus is reminding us to get behind Him as He becomes our light down every dark hallway that we walk. If Jesus goes first, we won't trip, we won't have fear, we won't wonder aimlessly for direction - we will make it to the other side of the hallway stronger and at peace.
So...how do we do this? How do we allow Jesus to go in front of us at all times? Jesus answers that in the next verse of Matthew - Chapter 11. In verse 29, Jesus says, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
It's so comforting to hear these words. Jesus reveals His character to us in this verse. I can picture Jesus' - gently and peacefully taking my hand and walking me through every hallway and situation that I face. What a comfort! Jesus doesn't want us to get out of breath - stressed out - and having to RUN to the other end of the hallway. He tells us to stay with Him and we will REST even as we face situations that naturally could seem "dark."
So...how do we yoke up with Jesus? When you look up "yoke" in the Greek, it means a coupling, servitude, a connection. This tells us that we have to couple ourselves with Jesus' Spirit and His Word. We have to make a daily effort to spend time with Jesus to connect with His Spirit and fill our mind with His Words. Jesus is always IN us if we have asked Him and received salvation but when we make the consistent effort to talk with Him, read with Him, listen to Him, then we become more aware of His presence. I promise that when you begin to treat Jesus as a best friend that walks beside of you constantly - everywhere you go - you take Him with you in every situation you face - as a constant companion - then, you will begin to feel His presence more. You will begin to recognize His rest that He is providing you and you will have more knowledge about how to handle situations than ever before.
When you spend time with Jesus and read His Word, you begin to know the will of God for all situations. Every situation is like a dark hallway when you are fishing around for what "might" be God's Will, but when you know God's Will, the light is on and you follow that light.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Turning this light on, takes our action. We must begin filling our minds and hearts with God's Will BEFORE we face the dark hallways - so that the dark hallway is not a problem for us but becomes a testimony of God's glory.
My best understanding of God's Word and Will is always testimonies that I have been a part of in my life that has allowed me to see God's Word come to life and work as He promises. I know that those of you who have read my blog for awhile know that my son was "diagnosed" with tree nut allergies when he was only two. When my husband (Landis) and I heard this diagnosis, it was a dark hallway for us. We were torn up by the fact that Luke would have to constantly live in fear of what he ate and carry around an epi-pen "just in case." Landis and I had a choice - we could stumble through this dark hallway with Luke and "hope" that he never got a hold of a tree nut that would hurt him. We could educate him on what not to eat. That's what the allergist told us to do. BUT...NO...Landis and I knew God's Word, we knew God's Will, and we knew that God didn't put foods here on this Earth to be a weapon against our little boy. So...we turned the light on....we reminded Luke of God's Word...that His allergies had been taken to the cross when Jesus was beaten. We quit going to the allergist. We quit carrying epi-pens. We allowed Luke to eat whatever he wanted and we thanked Jesus for His manifestation in Luke's body as he tried many, many foods that the allergist told him he was allergic to. Our family made it to the other side of that dark hallway - we didn't stumble through it, not knowing where to go. We yoked with Jesus - let Him lead the way - and at the end of the hallway, we found a healthy six year old who eats whatever he wants.
As Luke gets older and his years of allergy testing is a distant memory, I remind him of God's work in his life. Matter of fact, as I read these verses in Matthew the other day and I began to hear the Holy Spirit forming this blog, Luke woke up and came up his dark hallway all by himself. When Luke turned the corner of the hallway, I smiled, pulled him on my lap, and shared these verses in Matthew with him and told him all about how Jesus has been the light in this family, and especially in his little body. Luke listened...he took it all in and I thank Jesus for that opportunity to share our testimony with him. Luke will continue to face dark hallways in his life but my prayer is that he always remembers to go to Jesus for help and rest in each hallway.
Friends...you may or may not be in a dark hallway or approaching a dark hallway right now. If you are not facing any dark situations, be thankful for this season and get to know Jesus personally and get in the Word of God and learn His Will so you will be prepared if a season of dark hallways comes. If you are IN a dark hallway or approaching one, turn on the light - turn to Jesus - spend time with His Spirit - read His Word so that your path is lit and you make it to the other side of the hallway with peace - not fear - remember, yoke (couple, connect) with Jesus to find the rest you need.
Love,
Toddy
Here's my happy healthy Luke....eating whatever he wants...
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