“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…” (Psalm 124:1a KJV)
This past Saturday I joined our women’s group, Collage, as they visited the home of our oldest member, a woman who was born in 1920 and is the oldest living alumni of her famous high school, Crispus Attucks. The visit started out with prayer and then each member of the women’s ministry shared an assigned verse and a related testimony. Our oldest member, who I will just refer to as “Mother,” throughout this meditation, was attentive, actively participating, inspiring and interested, focused, and friendly with all her responses. Her expressions, verbal or physical, revealed approval about the shared life stories that highlighted the goodness, the grace, and the great things God had done in all our lives. Then, the highlight of the day, Mother, who could still remember her address where she lived during elementary and high school, had everybody’s attention as she spoke. All eyes were on here and all ear where open. No distractions interfered in listening to Mother. Her words always encourage, always provide motivation for others to keep pressing on. However, there were some wise words on that day spoken by Mother, words that made an impression on the minds, and I would say from this point on, the memory of those in the room. Mother said, “Life is a series of adjustments.” How wise are these words? Don’t they change how you look at life through the lens of the wisdom she let flow from her heart? Never forget them!
Listen! Life will have appointments and disappointments, the best of times and the worst of times, times for celebrating and times for confronting challenges, times of troubles and time of triumph over the trouble as the Lord will see you through. We have to adjust like the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB), “Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” And perhaps we have to make David’s words our own in the midst of life’s adjustments, words found in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging for bread.” (Note: An “Amen” goes right here!)
On top of that, as you look through your life, through the eyes of wisdom, spoken by Mother, know that she would be the first to testify to the words you find below, words sang as an addendum to the victorious song, “We Shall Overcome.” Sing them, praise God this morning, and know that as you go through your series of life’s adjustments believer, that the Lord is still on your side! He will see you through!
Now get going, and be ready to face your adjustments with the Lord, the One who is your Shepherd; the Lord, the One who will hear your cry, answer and deliver you; the Lord, the One who will never leave you or forsake you; the One who is a very present help in times of trouble; the One who brings joy in the morning! I could go on, but as you meditate, you can add to descriptions about the Lord, the One! (Note: Another “Amen” goes here too!) Be blessed!
“The Lord will see me through!
The Lord will see me through!
The Lord will see me through, someday!
Deep in my heart, I do believe!
The Lord will see me through someday!”
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King