Stretching

My granddaughter is two weeks old and she’s still adjusting to life outside the womb. Sometimes she rests well when swaddled or curled up on her momma’s chest near her familiar heartbeat. Other times, any sudden movement startles her and sends her little arms flying and she’s constantly stretching her tiny legs to their full length.

Watching her alternately stretch and startle, my mind flashes through a series of circumstances that have led to growth in my own life. I see myself responding either from fear or from faith, and those faith responses are powered by the times of rest I find in Christ where I can easily hear the heartbeat of the Father. His Word has a cumulative effect as I meditate on it, being careful to keep His commands. He guides my thoughts and steps, empowering my responses as I lean ever into Him.

Tonight little Amelia fought sleep for hours, finally resting around 4:00 am. She wore herself (and her mother and me) out in the process, but she’s still adjusting to life outside the womb. She will get her nights and days in order as her parents expose her to sunlight during wakeful hours, helping her to adjust. I pray that as she grows, she will see modeled first by her parents and family and also in the church many walking in the Light of Christ and that one day she will begin her own personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. In the meantime, she will hear the name of Jesus and feel His love as we all trust In Him.

I believe in all this, Jesus is keeping His promise to “teach and remind me of all He has spoken” just as He promised His first disciples by His Spirit. (John 14:26) In this way, I am reminded of His presence and encouraged by His nearness and desire to communicate with me intimately and personally. I share these thoughts in hopes that you too will be encouraged to find rest in Him as you listen for His gentle whisper (I Kings 19:12) each day. We all need a little more Son Light.