I had a thought during my devotional time this morning. A quick word for some good friends who, perhaps like me, need a reminder about our “down the road’s.”
We are prone to them, are we not? To our looking down the road, planning our down the road, worrying about our down the road, all the while missing out on the present moments given to us by a gracious God who offers them for our reverent celebration.
We forego the pleasure and peace of a current moment because we allow the heaviness of a down the road future to claim our thoughts, and therefore, shackle our capacity to live in the simplicity of a single pause.
This one. Not in the ones to come somewhere, sometime down the road, but the moment we hold in our hands right now. Do we have enough faith for this kind of living? A faith that is content to live gradually rather than having to see the end before it arrives? How different would our journeys walk if we could take hold of this one truth and embed it into our way of “doing” life?
Not that we don’t plan and prepare with our futures in mind, but rather that we engage each new step with the understanding that our Jesus is our down the road Companion. He goes before us, he comes behind us. He walks beside us. He lives within us. We cannot help but be surrounded by his matchless and unfathomable grace as we go.
We can refuse it. We can close our eyes to his abiding and ever-present comfort and go it alone, trusting in our own feeble attempts at having life make sense. But in doing so, we miss the momentary peace that enables us to live worry-free and in complete trust of a future we cannot see.
I know. My heart writes from a place of understanding. My down the road’s have been all-consuming as of late, denying me the privilege of a moment by moment, peaceful rest.
I can live in a moment, friends. I’m not sure I can handle the holy “rest of them” in a single breath, but I have a down the road Jesus who can. He stands before me this day and asks for my trust. For my complete gaze on his willing sacrifice that enables me to live in a moment and then to move on to the next.
When I place the cross before me, it blocks my vision from the unfolding of events that lie ahead of me. It covers them all and shadows me with a sacred perspective that shouts victory and triumph at every turn.
Jesus is the Way. He is our down the road. He is the pleasure and Peace of our every moment. Live in those moments this day, and let Jesus be your more than enough to see you through to tomorrow. As always,
PS: One of the pleasures of “momentary” living is embracing the pauses that come to us as we journey down the road. I had one such pleasure last evening in meeting “face to face” another blogging friend, Katie G from Tennessee. I invite you to partake of our moments together via this youtube link. In addition, please keep Katie and her husband, Luke, in your prayers as they are expecting their first child and have some concerns along those lines.
Thank you for writing these words for me. I KNOW I was in that group of friends to which you referred, and you are so right friend. So, so right. We do forget that He is our peace for the JOURNEY, not just the "down the road" destination.
Bless you – so glad you're having some good time away!
Hugs,
Melinda
Elaine, what comfort there is in knowing that He will be with us every step of the way — down the road, up the road, off the road, smack-dab in the middle of road, whereever!
Looks like you guys are having a great time. Enjoy to the fullest!
what a wonderful post! Thank you so much for sharing this with us… you are so right! He is our peace for every minute of every day of every year!
It is so easy to live in the past OR future, but our current moments are so precious – and all God wants us to handle. Thank you for reminding me.
Ah, yes. I want to enjoy and live in the moment God has given me – right now.
Sometimes I think it's easier to trust God with my future than it is to live with Him in my present. Weird, but that's how I am!
Thank you for this encouragement today.
BTW, why are you so lucky to have these blogger meetings???
And when are you coming to Michigan? *grin*
It definetly is easy to let our mind think ahead or behind and forget about enjoying the NOW! Every moment is a time to take in a enjoy if we learn to trust Him all along the way. Amen!
Christy
Looks like you are having fun!!!
Loved the thoughts today as well. I would do well to take them to heart. I tend to mark my days lately by "paychecks" – when we can pay this, then we can do this, not much fun!!! I know I am missing out on "enjoying" every day!
Thanks for the reminder!!
Much love!!
Here I am learning to rest in the here and now of His hand and in the "down the road Jesus" for the days to come.
This was pure torture. I may have been born a "yankee" but my daddy was pure Kentucky country. Whew…what I would give for some fried green tomatoes – some cornbread and the "pot liquor" to "sop" it in. :o) And those desserts…looks like runner mom will need to come back to your house Elaine to run off those GINORMOUS cakes! :o)
So glad that you had the opportunity to meet another bloggy friend and I will be praying for Katie G (and visiting her site soon).
Safe travels
Shalom,
Denise
What a TRUTH altering blog post! Wow! That's one of the very places that I think God is finally succeeding with in my life. For years and years I lived – always planning – always thinking about tomorrow and down the road.
But — ever since my husband got sick with cancer – every day became precious and God taught me – really TAUGHT me how to live each day dependent upon HIS SUSTAINING GRACE – and how to enjoy each new day that He created. Our last days together became precious jewels because we took each day and lived it – not looking down the road.
God promised to provide for my tomorrow – even the 'down the road' ones – so I must learn [still] to trust Him with that. Period!
I'm so excited that you got to meet one of your blogging friends. One day – Elaine – I want to meet you too- face to face – and I mean before heaven!!!
One PS: I also just loved what Cheryl Barker said:
"He will be with us every step of the way — down the road, up the road, off the road, smack-dab in the middle of road, wherever!"
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[JESUS – the One I Worship]
I feel so blessed to find you and read this beautiful entry. This phrase -"I’m not sure I can handle the holy “rest of them” in a single breath, but I have a down the road Jesus who can…"
resonates within me. Thank you for the poignant reminder that God gives us the grace when we need it – not before. What a wonderful reminder! Blessings fellow blogger!
Amen! I'm finding that living in the moment and trusting Him with the 'down the road' is the only way I can live in any sort of peace at all.
And we took a little journey last weekend where we each experienced just what you described–that even when this moment seems like a detour, it can be a very blessed detour and the trip is all the better because of it.
I hope your trip is refreshing your spirit.
Blessings,
Mary
Aww, Mrs. Elaine, the video was fabulous, esp. when ya'll caught me eating cake, HUGE piece!!:) You crack me up! I am blessed to meet you. It did seem like a moment's pause to enjoy life and some fried green tomatoes:):) You are so much better on film than me! I am wearing my earrings today, praying for you:)
katiegfromtennessee
Oh, how I needed this reminder! No doubt I've missed a few simple pauses as of late. Thanks for giving me a few moments of peaceful rest in this post. Going to print this quote and commit it to memory.
"When I place the cross before me, it blocks my vision from the unfolding of events that lie ahead of me. It covers them all and shadows me with a sacred perspective that shouts victory and triumph at every turn."
Wow. How I needed these words today!
Living in THIS moment…
Love,
Tracy
P.S. So happy to see you met another blog buddy…anxious to watch your video clip at home this weekend (Youtube is blocked at work.)
What a comfort to know that God is with me on this walk and I can put my trust in Him. Thank you again for such encouraging words.
On another note…that was some good eating. Thank you for sharing your visit with Katie G. Can't wait to visit her blog!
God has been working on this very thing with me lately. I had never realized just how much I project into the future and lean on my own understanding.
Thanks for this reminder.
You scratched my itch – thanks! ooo, that sounds weird, doesn't it?
This was a timely post for me. I have times of having this "down the road" syndrome under control as I concentrate on what is right before me, then I relapse into anxiety and wonder what is around the corner, down the road. This motivates me to spend some time with the Lord to get back to the right now instead of what ifs.
You always know how to say it and write it just right. 😉 I know this is a HUGE issue for my hubby and some close friends. I struggle with the opposite. I am so "in the moment," that often I don't plan or discipline myself for what is to come or what needs to happen to accomplish the goals God has placed on my heart.
But either way, the same message applies. If I am fixing my eyes and heart on Him, He can give me the discipline I need to work toward the future. Funny how now and later go hand-in-hand sometimes.
You bless me so much, friend.
This spoke to me Elaine, in my current. Be looking for an e-mail….Lovingly, Yolanda
Yes.
This moment.
This one, I devote to Him right now. Because of what He's done for me. The way He loves me. The way He delights in me.
Don't want to wait for "down the road" to get here.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts.
Wonderful post, Elaine. You are a blessing to us.
A week ago, I have been to the place where your picture shows. We were from Michigan and was driving all the way down here in Florida. We had a few stop at Tennessee… and I saw that one, too.
Have a blessed Sunday. 🙂
There's a little something waiting for you over at my blog this morning. Be sure to stop by. Blessings to you, dear friend.
I have to admit that while the moment holds hard right now, it's difficult to keep my eyes from looking down the road for the gateway of hope.
Thanks for moments today that you breathed life back into my heart. The sound of your voice on the other end of my phone always makes me smile and creates moments I cherish.
Love ya,
Joy
WOW…I needed this today…because my "down the road" has seemed ALL consuming….and I MUST release it!!!!
Blessings…sweet friend.
Oops! Missed this post somehow!! What fun!!! I recognize that mill!! So glad that y'all had a wonderful time! Loved the video–brought back some sweet memories of my visit the other week!!
your post truly touched my heart. This section" When I place the cross before me, it blocks my vision from the unfolding of events that lie ahead of me. It covers them all and shadows me with a sacred perspective that shouts victory and triumph at every turn." Elaine, all I can say is "Amen!" Throw those shackles off and dance! (Yes, the Mary Mary song is going through my head!)
Love you!
Susan
Hi Elaine~ Kim from Seasons of my Heart shared this post with me, and the Lord blessed me greatly through it. I posted it on my blog today and linked it to yours. Thank you for what you shared. You have no idea how God will use your words.
Blessings to you…
Jennifer
These words are a blessing, thank you.