There are times when the brightest smile dims, the driest eyes get teary, the strength wavers, and the resilience weakens. Not because of the lack of faith that a person has, but because of the seemingly impossible circumstance or circumstances, which make life hard to bear, just as you are approaching the goal line. These are the poignant times in life you will never forget, because they signify breakthrough, and how near you are to your accomplishment––reaching the next stage on your journey.
Changes take place on the journey. You say goodbye to people, places and things as you move forward. Old habits die, and new habits move in, shaping your life as they guide you forward in your direction. There are lots of goodbyes on the journey, some to people you deeply care about and some to others who have meant you ill will. Leaving them all behind, the still small voice whispers in your ear, "Don't worry! There will be others"–––reaching the next stage on your journey.
I know of a lady who had no knowledge of her destiny. The honor was not planned for her, but her willingness to accept change, and take advantage of an opportunity, brought her an honor that has come down through history. Before her step into eternal remembrance the ruling judge had prophesied to the warrior who refused to accept his destiny, who refused to turn his back on the old order of things, " If I go with you, then the honor will go to another––" He never reached the next stage on his journey.
- Who would have thought that this lady would go down in history?
- Who would have thought to hear her name sung in a song of praise?
- Who would have thought to pick her, the unclean woman, with no great heritage?
Yet even today, wherever Biblical women are honored, she is honored:
Most blessed of women be Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite,
Most blessed of tent-dwelling women.
He asked for water, and she gave him milk,
In a bowl fit for nobles, she brought him curdled milk.
Her hand reached for the tent peg,
Her right hand for the workman's hammer.
She struck Sisera, she crushed his head,
She shattered and pierced his temple.
At her feet he sank,
He fell; there, he lay.
At her feet he sank, he fell;
Where he sank, there he fell––dead1.
Jael, the tent-dweller, accepted the destiny that belonged to another and moved into a place of honor––reaching the next stage on her journey.
So is it with me, so is it with you. The smile dims, the eyes get teary, the strength wavers, and the resilience weakens. The battle is hard fought, and the bruises are many. Yet the grace that is given us through our faith in the LORD Jesus Christ should spur us on just like Jael–––to reach the next stage of our journey.
Be blessed everyone.
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
1 ZONDERVAN, New International Version, 1984, Judges 5:24-27
