On The Other Side
On The Other Side
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How often do we see the mountain in front of us and say, “It’s too big, too high, too formidable?” Or it feels like an ocean filled with stormy seas raging in the way of where we believe we are to be. There are seasons in our lives that seem like the mountains will win, the seas will swallow us up. It’s as if their sheer brutality will overcome us and we lose sight of the goal and the beauty of our journey.
But God in His grace and mercy says “No, the mountain will not win, the seas will be quieted; they will not crush you; trust me; lean into me for my grace is sufficient and my mercy is from everlasting to everlasting.” There is a dawn after the darkness and it is the darkest just before the dawn. It is a physical fact. But it is a spiritual principle as well.
And in those times we feel that the stormy seas of life will overtake us. BUT, God is who He says He is. He is not situational but solid, stable and unconditionally consistent. We can depend on that. Just as a lighthouse on the shore never moves; being stationary; it is continually shining the light to warn of danger and to provide the comfort of safety as the ship’s captain look for the guiding light to direct them on a safe path.
So does God.
There are storms that threaten the very survival of a ship as they come too close to shore, or maneuver through rough and rocky waters. But the lighthouses along the way guide them through to safe waters. When the storm subsides it is time to take stock, repair, and reinforce the structure.
There is an anecdote that helps us understand the need to know, depend and trust the lighthouse beam. The origin of the story is attributed to Frank Koch, a naval officer.
“A battleship had been at sea on its routine maneuvers under stormy weather for days. The captain, who was worried about the deteriorating weather, stayed on the bridge to keep an eye on all activities. One night, the lookout on the bridge suddenly shouted, “Captain! A light, bearing on the starboard bow.”
“Is it stationary or moving astern?” the captain asked. The lookout replied that it was stationary. This meant the battleship was on a dangerous collision course with the other ship. The captain immediately ordered his signalman to signal to the ship:
“We are on a collision course. I advise you to change course 20 degrees east.
Back came a response: “You change course 20 degrees west.”
Agitated by the arrogance of the response, the captain asked his signalman to shoot out another message: “I am a captain, you change course 20 degrees east.”
Back came the second response: “I am a second class seaman, you had still better change course 20 degrees west.”
The captain was furious this time! He shouted to the signalman to send back a final message: “I am a battleship. Change course 20 degrees east right now!”
Back came the final response: “I am a lighthouse.”
The captain changed course.
We have to choose to look up, to reach out to the one who walked through the same dark challenges as we. Jesus understands because He went through the roughest of circumstances and shows us the way.
JESUS SPENT TIME WITH HIS FATHER!
Just like the lighthouse, He kept His Father in sight, He listened to His words and did what He asked.
“They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
John 8:27-29 NIV
Jesus goes on a little later to say:
“…but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me…”
John 14:31 NIV
The key: Keep God in our sight. Learn from His Word the direction we should go so we are able to navigate in this world with peace knowing that He can and will guide us through to the other side. His Word is the lighthouse’s beam that guides us through the treacherous places.
He doesn’t remove those places in our lives He guides us through them.
In Matthew Jesus tells us, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” For if it rained solely on evil they would say, “Well if you had to go through this you wouldn’t believe either.” The reality is it is not what happens to us that means much for all people face hard and devastating situations; it is what we do, how we respond to what happens that means everything.
The only way to have peace through the process…stay focused on the beam of light, Jesus. He is how we know the Father. Read His Word. Spend time in prayer and meditation with God. Commit who we are, our will, our thoughts, words and actions to the Holy Spirit and He will guide us through to the other side.
Isaiah tells us:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
And David who knew great challenges says it this way:
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11 NIV
When we come to the other side can we go through the town showing others what God has done for us? Are we able to say to those we meet, “This is my story. See what God has done and is doing in my life?”
God does bring us through, He always does.
We say, “how can we make it through I’m not strong enough, I, I, I. God knew and so Jesus tells us this:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26 NIV
There is a saying “This too shall pass.” It is true. What we’re like on the other side, that will depend on us. Are we willing to stop, take a deep breath and thank God for taking us all the way through? Are we willing to tell others, “our testimony, our story” how God was faithful, not only the things He brought us through but how?
