The Narrow Uncharted Path - March 21, 2020
By Alice Hickman Sawtelle
heartpaths@gmail.com
As I sit here in the darkness of 3 a.m. wanting to let my mind drift back and write those old stories of homeland and family comforts of days gone by, Iâm pulled back into the reality of today! Itâs as if there is an elephant in the room. How do I approach the subject of the darkness that has invaded our land, stolen our sense of security and changed our daily way of life. The whole planet seems to be reeling with fear and uncertainty, threatening our very existence and bringing a halt to the normalcies that most have come together take for granted.
Well folks, for those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that I will once again turn to my maker and creator; the one who knows me best. He has heard me pouring out my heart to Him during my most weak and despairing moments. He has walked with me through some dark and desolate hours.
There is an answer for each of us in the midst of the present threatening situation, as the whole earth seems to have been invaded with a most unwelcome intruder. That answer is this. Trust in the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6 ....... 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight....) Now that is a promise I can depend on and that is the path I chose to take. How do we do that? Iâm glad you asked. By faith! (Hebrews 12:2 ...... Looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; .....). Sounds simple, right? Well it actually is simple. The voice in our mind tries to make it complicated, but we can only come to him as little children and enter into his welcoming arms for shelter during this storm. (Psalm 91:3-5. 3 Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague. 4 He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day).
If you are a Christian, you have been given the measure of faith. I hope to encourage you to exercise that faith. It wonât make fear disappear but it will strengthen and help to keep your mind focused and not allow fear to have rule. Let patience have her perfect work (James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (mature) and complete).
This storm will pass!
As for me, I will follow the guidelines that our leaders have established. Not comfortable, but necessary. I sense calmness in their spirit! That calmness is contagious. Join me and get on board. I sense that there is more to this situation than I comprehend or understand. So I choose to trust their wisdom. For me, that is a long stretch since I am the person who ’needsâ to understand everything. Itâs my nature to over rate myself. After all, Iâm the original fixer. I donât need help. I can fix anything. However, this is a challenge that I canât fix. So Iâm turning it over to the one who can and take shelter under His wing! I only have to abide and occupy my space. So stand I will. Yes, lives will be lost! Iâm sobered by that reality, but I truly believe that we will come through this and be a better and stronger nation of people.
This is an uncharted time for our country, for our president and leaders, for you and for me! This is an uncharted path Iâve taken this morning. I have no roadmap, but Iâve followed my heart. May God bless everyone! | 
