12052020 Just Keep Walking

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our faithful God. Because He is faithful, we can faithfully continue to follow Him.

Lesson #16. Even when we don't know how a trial will turn out, we can be comforted in our faithful commitment to the foundation that we do know. Trials are unpredictable. We don't know the end, and we don't know all the twists and turns along the way. In the midst of uncertainty, we have a rock-solid foundation, and we have assurances that we know will never change.

These foundations rest in the most basics of what we know about God. We know He saved us. We know He loves us. We know He has all the answers. We know He understands. We know His way is right. We know He is good. We know His Word is true. Even when we struggle to comprehend the scope of our trial, and even if we have doubts, there are some unshakeable foundations in the depths of our hearts that we know have not changed and cannot change.

So here's the scenario. Life is out of control. We don't see an answer in sight. We don't know how to keep going. Even the next day or the next step seems impossible. In other words, we don't see the out-workings or the conclusions of all those foundational truths about God. In that dark hour, we make a choice to believe anyway. The foundations are so unshakeable that we know things will turn out right in the end; it's just the middle of the story that seems messed up and uncertain.

If the foundation is right, and if the end is going to be right, then in the middle, we just need to keep walking. That's what Job did, and his decision to do so brought him comfort. "Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One" (6:10). Job kept doing the right thing in the middle of the murky swamp. "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (23:11-12).

Job was determined that for as long as he lived, he would just keep walking. He would keep following the foundational truth that he knew was right, even if this trial ended in his death, which is what he expected. "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live" (27:3-6).

In seeking an illustration, my mind goes to a swamp area with quicksand or to a minefield, both precarious situations in which danger extends as far as our eye can see. As we lie scared in the mud, a guide comes to us. He says that he knows the safe way out. So we hold onto his belt, and we follow him one step at a time. It might take hours to reach safety. During the entire process, we don't know any of the hidden dangers, and we never know the next safe step. We might not be able to see safety until the final step. But if we have confidence in our guide, we just keep walking, no matter how dark, dismal, or threatening our situation is. Our mind just keeps saying that there is safety, and that we are following the guide who can take us there.

In the meanwhile, it matters how we live. It matters that we continue faithfully in spite of the darkness. In 29:12-25, Job tells of his previous blessing from God and of the respect that he formerly had from others, because of his right actions in the past. Job later shares additional personal examples of how he had done right in his life previously and of how he intended to continue that. He recognized regarding God, "Does not he see my ways, and count all my steps?" (31:4).

If following God was important before, it is still important now. The path may be dark right now, but the foundations haven't changed. We may not currently see God's blessing, but God doesn't change. Following such a faithful God is the only answer, even when we currently see nothing but trouble. There is eventually an exit, and our faithful God will lead us to it.

In his final days, our pastor had a important message that he wanted to leave behind. Regarding God and the Bible, he implored others to share this message from him: "It's all true." Pastor was still in the middle of the swamp, and the night was getting very dark, but he was confident in God. Yes, it is all true. Someday we will see the answers. Some day our faith will be sight. Until then we can have hope, comfort, and encouragement in clinging to the foundational truth we know - and just keep walking on the path we know is right. When we get to the other side, we will be really glad we stayed on the path. It will be worth it all.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA