Stepping Stones

 At the end of this week, my dear friend will stop by my home and together we will navigate the path to Jackson, MI for our ACFW-GLC writers' conference. I've partnered with another friend in prayer for this weekend, and while doing so, I began to see some things our chapter has been facing. Tragedies abound, heartaches, heartbreaks, goodbyes, financial devastation, health crises, and issues I've neglected to list have plagued the members of this group. Many are planning to attend the conference. Some won't be able to, and we'll miss them. 

                                                              

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As I’ve prayed for the conference, you, and each member of the GLC, I thought about the opposition everyone faces. I find it as no coincidence that many are facing health, family, or financial trials. AND this week it seems to be at its worst with you given that pain you’ve been in.

While considering these struggles, two words came up: Stepping Stones. I’ve pondered those words. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. The Israelite leaders were to choose 12 stones from the Jordan and carry them out of the river when they crossed into Canaan. Stones were either used as a memorial to what God had done, or to punish sin.

Here’s what my take is: the Jordan represents opposition. It was at flood stage when the Israelite people crossed. The priests were directed to step into the river, AND THEN God pushed the waters back for the nation to cross. For me, this means we are to (at times) take a step into that thing we think will overwhelm us and send us sputtering for air—and perhaps drown us—before we see God’s provision. BUT AS WE DO, He’ll make a way for our crossing into the promise. We are to take those stones to be memorials concerning God’s faithfulness. Those stones might (to me) look like certain devastation financially -->but God provided; health disaster --> but God came through; discouragement --> but God sent His word …

See where I’m going?

We should NEVER forget the struggle (those are the stones). Those stones are (if put in proper perspective) to remind us of God’s faithfulness. They’re set in our lives so we can tell those who come after us of God’s wondrous love, mercy, and steadfast provision in our lives. That when the enemy comes to destroy us, we called unto God and He came to our rescue. Whatever that rescue looks like to each of us is God-designed, specifically for our personality and purpose.

These stones might not bleed into our stories, BUT THEY ARE PART of our story—who we are, how compassion, passion, and love seep into every letter, every word, every chapter, between every cover of our stories.

These stones then become stepping stones, aiding our climb up into God’s arms, so we can rest our cheek against His chest and listen to His heartbeat.