Marching to Zion
My husband and I walk together – but not strictly “together”. When we began walking, he measured his steps to mine so that we could walk side-by-side. One day it dawned on me that he really wasn’t getting the optimum benefit from the walk so I encouraged him to go at his own pace.
So we begin the walk together and within a short distance he is far ahead of me. I took that picture of him when we were walking a few weeks ago. That’s my usual view! He is very sweet though, and several times during the 3.5 mile walk he will turn around and walk back to meet me.
The other day he was up ahead already about half way up one of the hills that make our walk a bit more challenging, and I was still on the level ground. As I watched him making his way to the top of the hill while I was walking on the easy part I thought what a picture of life that is.
There are seasons when all is smooth and easy. We walk along without any difficulty, enjoying the blessings along the way. Inevitably the level ground gives way to an ever-increasing incline as we face those challenges life has a way of throwing at us. It is hard to concentrate on the blessings all around us when we are struggling just to put one foot in front of the other. We long for an end to the suffering and see only greater heights looming ahead.
Then I thought of the words of an old hymn by Isaac Watts, “We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion. We’re marching upward to Zion, that beautiful city of God.” I don’t often think of life in those terms, but the older I get the more meaningful those words become. Every step I take, every day that passes brings me closer to my eternal home. Every step, every circumstance He allows, has meaning and purpose as the Father molds and shapes my life
It is true that sometimes the journey seems overwhelmingly difficult, but seen in the light of heaven it is much more bearable. We who have accepted Jesus as our Savior are truly just pilgrims passing through this world on our way to the city not made with hands. A city where Jesus is the light, where there is no more pain or sorrow, where our loved ones wait, where there will be no more death.
There will be seasons of walking in pleasant places and seasons of struggle, but we never walk alone. We walk with the One who takes us by the hand and brings us ever closer to the beautiful home He has prepared for us. All along the way He supplies everything we need and so much more. He lavishes us with such love and grace there are times we experience a little bit of heaven here on earth, but it is just a little taste of the joys that await us.
In his book “Day by Day”, Billy Graham writes:
“I have a friend who during the depression lost his job, a fortune, a wife and a home. But he tenaciously held to his faith-the only thing he had left. One day he stopped to watch some men doing stonework on a huge church. One of them was chiseling a triangular piece of stone. ‘What are you going to do with that?’ asked my friend. The workman said, ‘See that little opening away up there near the spire? Well, I’m shaping this down here, so it will fit in up there.’ Tears filled the eyes of my friend as he walked away, for it seemed that God had spoken through the workman to explain his ordeal through which he was passing, ‘I’m shaping you down here, so you’ll fit in up there.'”
Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me, in My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and reeive you to Myself; that where I am , there you may be also.” John 14: 1-3 (NAS)
In His Love,
Linda
Great reflections… if only the chiseling didn’t hurt so much… Thank you.
What a wonderful picture that you have left with us that we are not on this journey of life – walking it alone. I am so thankful for those footprints in the sand. Thanks for sharing today. -blessings, Laurie
I love this.
This is so beautiful, Linda and so eloquently written. Thanks so much for sharing.
SO beautiful Linda. Seasons of pruning/difficulty hurt at the time, but in the long run they are so vital to our lives. It can be hard to remember this is not our home, we are aliens here…
I like the Billy Graham quote. Thanks for the great devotional.
Precious. I take pictures of my family walking ahead of me all the time. Loved this devo. Yes, I wish the walk were easier but I trust His path for me is best. And one day the walk with be straight into His embrace!