I Will Rise

Though I am at a good place right now with a (fairly) good balance of family/work/church/writing/everything else, there have been some times when Life wasn't so peachy!

Just one year ago, I was at one of the most stressed out times of my life. My family had been going through unemployment/underemployment for nearly nine months before my husband got a (real) job. He worked a thousand miles away. We skyped for three months. My kids didn't know which way was up sometimes throughout that entire school year.

As the Lord led us through a (miraculous) quick sale of our house in Virginia (we never even had a chance to list it with a Realtor before we had an offer) and helped us get into a (cheap and big enough) house in Arkansas, I knew that God was guiding our footsteps. But daily, I would go through immense highs and lows. I would stress out for a few minutes and wonder how everything would come together. Then I would look over my shoulder (so to speak) and see how the Lord had carried us on his shoulders from the moment all of this had begun. He had fed us when we were hungry. He had given us clothes when we needed them. He gave us just enough money to pay the bills through the generosity of others, the patchwork of part-time work and renting out our extra bedroom. He gave us the blessed assurance that all would be well when not a single resume would result in a phone call or interview.

We had walked through the Death Valley of Unemployment and had not just survived, but had our testimonies strengthened as we witnessed one small (and not so small ) miracle after another. I KNEW that God had blessed us and sheltered us throughout that year. And I knew that for the next month in the last leg of packing and moving and uprooting our lives, he would see us through.

There are times when I grieve over the loss of my friends. I miss my neighbor-friends and my church-friends and my kids' playgroup-friends. My kids missed their neighborhood elementary school and the cheerful faces they knew. They miss our old house and the yard and the trampoline. We all miss the walks in the Arboretum and along the Appalachian Trail and along the sidewalks of home. There are times when I remember a close friend and I begin to cry. When I read on Facebook about their child's accomplishment and all I can do is give a two sentence "Congratulations". There is sadness and there is an emptiness that those particular people can only fill. And I miss them.

But then I am amazed at how wonderfully God has provided for me and my family in Arkansas. We have friends, new friends that have already become dear and irreplaceable. We have a new neighborhood elementary which is different, but still nice. We have a park that is fun to walk to and play in. If we want longer walks we can drive to the walking bridge that spans the Arkansas River or go clime Pinnacle Mountain. We have a home which, though is still looking like a "Before" photo in a magazine will someday (I hope) become a welcoming hospitable place. (To note: the inside is nice enough. The exterior just looks like a brown 70's design project that somebody dropped into the neighborhood  by mistake.)  I am still amazed at how perfect this house is for us in price and in size and in location.

As I watched this video and listened to the words and felt the Spirit of its message, my soul resonated with this declaration: "I will Rise on eagle's wings." Though the resurrection of my body may be a long time from now, I know that we each can rise through the troubles that beset us in this life. God can walk before us and prepare the way. He can walk beside us to comfort us along the path. He can if we invite him to be our companion in our struggles...If we share our burden with him...If we look to him for strength and for our help. He will be our Savior. Not just from the distant Grave, but from our personal Hells that we may be going through this very day. He can and he will. Reach out. He is already there, waiting.





"I Will Rise"

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
[x2]

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise