Series: Flowers in the Desert
Psalm 23:4 ESV
Hebrews 13:6 ESV
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
One night in early November, 1987 I had a dream.
At the time I had the dream my dad was dying of cancer. We had been told by hospice his time was very near. I had the dream the night before he died.
In the dream there was a tunnel and my dad was walking through the tunnel. I remember he was wearing his gold (ugly gold) fishing pants. He walked (as he often did) with his head held high. He was just shy of being 5’7” tall and it’s possible that he was making sure every inch counted.
In the dream I could see through the walls of the tunnel and I could see a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
He was focused solely on walking toward the light.
My dad was my buddy, my guard, my “go to” person when I had a problem. He taught me how to read, how to draw pictures, how to give a good speech, and even how to understand scripture. He taught (and modeled) how to listen to God.
I was 34 years old when I had the dream. Even though I was married and had four children, I relied heavily on my dad, especially in spiritual matters.
I could not imagine life without him.
Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
In the dream I saw that my dad did not fear anything. He was headed to sit with God and nothing else mattered.
He knew without doubt that Jesus was with him.
He relied on God to direct him to heaven.
The last time I saw my dad I knew he wasn’t afraid to die. He knew the cancer had taken hold of his body and he was determined to “see” God.
Still, I was not ready. I’ve been told even when we think we are ready, we are not. In my heart I was begging God to let him stay longer.
In the dream I had the night before he died, I was standing on the outside of the tunnel screaming and clawing at the walls of the tunnel. I was even trying to get inside the tunnel to go with him.
Looking back, I don’t think I felt like I could do life without him.
Thirty six years after I had that dream I realize I had not really grown up. I know that because after he died I grew up. I grew stronger in the faith and instead of going to my dad when I had a problem, I went to God.
I needed to grow up.
I also needed to realize that because I can rely on God I do not need to be afraid of death.
I needed to learn (really learn) that God is with me and will be with me wherever I go.
I needed to learn to trust God and His timing in all things. Even though I still struggle with that, I much more afraid than I was when I was 34 years old.
The year I turned 68 I realized that I had now been without my dad for as many years as I was with him. When I thought about that, I realized how very good God had been to me…how patient God was and is with me, and how very much God loves me. Now, I can’t imagine what life would be like without God and the changes God brought into my life after my dad died. I can’t imagine life without God. Because of that, sometimes it’s difficult to put myself in someone else’s shoes who doesn’t know God. Maybe that’s because God has always been there for me.
God has never failed me.
Even though I’ve had a rough time now and then, God has never failed me.
Hebrews 13:6 tells us, “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Even though I was afraid, God was and is my helper.
I grew up.
I also grew in faith and I am learning every day how to rely on the Spirit. God IN us is a powerful thing.
In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Through the Spirit of Almighty God in us we have God’s power, the love of God, and Self-control given freely to us from the Spirit.
Today we are not looking at one desert plant, but many desert plant characteristics. One lasting characteristic they have in common is their “no fear” approach. Desert plants are resilient. Regardless of changes, the adapt. If water is more scarce, their tap roots grow longer to find water. Desert plants grow thicker leaves and stems to stay cool. Some desert plants even grow their own shade. Regardless of the changes, desert plants adjust and survive.
We CAN learn from desert plants!
Spiritual Practice: Adjust
Ask God to teach you how to adjust to changes as they come.
In God, Deborah
Comments