BEHOLD, YOU ARE THERE

 “BEHOLD, YOU ARE THERE.” Psalm 139:8

In our spiritual growth we need to walk in faithful obedience to the Lord in the full range of experiences, from “pit” to “peak” and everywhere in between. We grow in spirit and depth as we walk with Jesus through desert places as well as “green pastures,” and as we persevere in faith on stormy seas and in the “deep” as well as the peaceful walk by “still water,” The Psalmist speaks of remembering the Lord from the Jordon valley as well as from the heights of Hermon. He experienced the Lord’s lovingkindness in the daytime and His song in the night. Near or far, high or low, there is no extremity that can separate us from God’s love and care.

Twilla Paris wrote and sang a wonderful song that was popular in 1984. The song tells of the Christian who is amazing and successful in God’s work and in his personal life. The song goes on to say, “They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down. They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around. I drop my sword and cry for just a while. For deep inside this armor the warrior is a child.”

The song is a good illustration of the two aspects of the struggles and victories we face in our walk with the Lord. Too often people see the successes and victories which are only the “tip of the iceberg,” They don’t realize that even the strong sometimes get wounded in the fight. Our battles are won through faith and obedience. We empower ourselves in the Lord’s presence and we persevere in the good fight. But the victory is won in the “prayer closet” in our private time with Jesus. Then later after the battle when we are bruised or faint, we return to that secret place of prayer, fellowship, and communion, and receive renewed strength, healing, and encouragement.

The Lord told Joshua to “be strong and of good courage.” The Lord repeated the command three times in the same paragraph. “Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord knew that Joshua would be successful. But He also knew that Joshua, like the rest of us, would face times of being hard-pressed, perplexed, and buffeted by the enemy.

The battles are won in the secret place of God’s presence. We wrestle in prayer, intercession, worship, and praise without an audience. There would be no iceberg tip glistening in the sun if it were not for its substance and strength that grew beneath the surface and out of sight.

Of course, we draw strength through fellowship with other believers, from their prayers and all the grace that God gives us through them. But this does not substitute for our own personal walk with Jesus. An overflowing spiritual life, includes receiving grace and life from other believers, but we cannot simply live off the overflow of others. We must have our own inner fountain. We draw strength, faith, and encouragement from others…and from our personal time with the Lord in “the secret place” of His presence.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me and Your right hand shall take hold of me.
If I say ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day.”    Ps 139:7-12.