Merriam Webster defines ‘passage’ as the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another. It’s a process or action, that implies movement. Not sitting still.
If we say that we are ‘going through’ hard times or ‘going through’ a divorce or ‘going through’ menopause, we are telling our friend that in addition to the physical trauma and difficulties of these incidences, we are also experiencing mental emotional challenges. We are not passing through a physical tunnel named hard times, divorce, or menopause (although it often feels like it), but experiencing all the sensory hardships associated with our situation.
Without always realizing it, we are declaring that there is a destination. In other words, we are in the process of moving from point A (our ground zero, point of impact) to point B (our hopeful place of rest from chaos). We are on a journey to get somewhere ~ almost anywhere away from where we started. And somewhere in the deep recesses of our mind, we have envisioned the end of that tunnel, and the cessation of the activity. We know that we will reach that destiny. But we anxiously await that moment in time.
For many of us, we have been waiting a long, long time. And with every step forward, that journey seems to grow deeper and longer.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NLT
My pastor recently preached on this topic of ‘going through’. And as I read and re-read the passage in Isaiah, my eyes get tugged back to the deep waters … rivers of difficulty … fire of oppression. Because it feels like that sometimes.
The harshness of life can make us feel as though our last breath is about to be taken from us as we live those painful moments.
Perhaps your present place of hurt is rooted in what feels like constant plagues of bad events, leaving you exhausted and crying out, “When is this finally going to end?” “Why won’t GOD just wave His Hand and make it stop?”
I’ve often said the same thing. I get you, Girlfriend.
And as I live through each day of my passage with Jesus, I’ve come to learn that there are life lessons that only He is qualified to teach. More than that, only He knows which ones we are needing to learn.
This passage, this process, is the classroom. I’m learning from the Master Teacher, who knows what I need to get through to the other side and is equipping me to live life victoriously once I exit this tunnel. Only He knows what awaits me when I finally see the light.
The same is for you, Sister. The Lover of your soul has lovingly hand-picked exactly what He knows you need from the library of His Grace.
One thing is for sure, my Friend: Jesus is with you (me) the entire way. With each (what feels like a blind) step we take, He is there. He promises that His Daughter will not be tested beyond her ability in that moment to stand firm. He has His protective Arm ready and will comfort us with peace the entire journey. We only need to trust Him.
Keep your eyes forward, grip His Hand tightly, talk with Him often, and walk steady knowing that He is with you. You’re going to make it.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 