Journey of the Word

I saw it in the softening of a terrified, timid, hardened soul. Once unapproachable and decidedly unwilling to accept truth, help, wisdom, or love. Then one day, her feeble, unforeseen smile couldn’t be missed. Her questions seemed to shout, her brief, incomplete text messages voiced a million words, and her tight hug shook my being.

I saw it in the flicker of hope restored to one deeply wounded. Life drained, merely existing in a dungeon of despair, prayers but torrents and thunders. Wars waging over the moments, the breaths, the days and the nights of one heartbroken to the point of anguish. Now slowly looking up. One foot in front of the other. Joy in sight.

I saw it in the shifting of those who, by their own admission, refused to shift. Who stood their ground, banner waving high, and who covered their hard-earned principles in crumble-prone cement. Whose humbled hearts began to bow to irrefutable Truth as a more sufficient Banner to wave. This, witnessed in those who “never will.”

I saw it in the profound, godward thoughts of a simple-minded, unprincipled girl. A Spirit-over-flesh exchange. Entire belief systems replaced, passions and desires transformed, and life-altering wisdom claimed. Made new in ways that simply don’t make sense.

What do these stories have in common? Change.

Unreal, unbelievable, impossible change. Because of Jesus.

And because I cared, and because I knew he could change them, I went along for the ride. I wanted to watch the scenes unfold. I wanted to see how that person might change, because I knew change could happen. I knew it was actually real, believable, possible. For I saw change in me.

I saw it in the fear melting away from my pain-ridden, anxiety-stricken life. When trust and joy filled those places, I knew something had changed.

I saw it in the humbling of my egotistic, impressive, competent, perfection-seeking self. When all was graciously exposed and tortuously removed, I knew something had changed.

I saw it in the freedom of my soul to live in holiness and righteousness and submission to Christ. When I understood that I had long been bound by my own idealism and philosophy and pointless habits, I knew something had changed.

I saw it in the delight of my heart poring over boring Scriptures I’d read my whole life. When I longed for the Word and simply couldn’t get enough of it, I knew something had changed.

I saw it in my five-year-old self kneeling at the green, leather couch that day. Little hands clasped in prayer like never before or since.

Unreal, unbelievable, impossible change. Because of Jesus.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

 [image credit: unsplash.com]