Still Standing

Perhaps it is the unseen hand of the Living God that has allowed the difficulty to come our way while at the same time protecting us and guiding us through it.

My morning hunt was over, and I decided to walk back the long way around in order to see if it was still there. It had been placed on the ridge way back in April as a part of a hillside Easter morning sunrise service. At that time it was surrounded by the fresh green hue of new Spring growth, but on this late-December morning, the death grip of old-man Winter had turned the green glow of Spring into a pale brown backdrop for this old rugged cross to keep company with. Since its placement nearly a year ago, this cross had endured the battery of the never-ceasing Mid-West wind, the barrage of a number of severe thunderstorms, and the remnants of two hurricanes turned tropical systems by the time they made it that far north…but it was STILL STANDING! What a thought!

If you are reading this blog here in early 2021, then you have quite a bit in common with that old rugged cross atop a southern Missouri ridge. You’ve endured a year riddled with hardship, conflict, and disappointment. You’ve navigated the tumultuous seas of 2020 and you are STILL STANDING! Have hard times come your way? Undoubtedly. Have you experienced your share of disappointment? Without question. Have you had to wade through floodwaters of uncertainty? Certainly! But you, my friend, are STILL STANDING! And that is proof that the God who spoke this trouble-ridden world into existence (a world which, by the way, is still beautiful even though so much trouble exists on it) is not done with you yet.

Think with me through this quick recap: The year of 2020 dawned under the fog of a presidential impeachment trial here in the U.S. Right on the heels of that nation-dividing debacle came the announcement of what is presently an ongoing pandemic – COVID 19. While this was still freshly evolving, our nation experienced riots – oh, my bad – peaceful protests in our major cities over racially fueled injustices. Before these could calm down, here in Louisiana, we endured the worst hurricane ever recorded and then another less severe but still damaging one weeks later. Before the end of the year, the presidential election took place, and who knows if we’ll ever know exactly how accurate or inaccurate the vote turnout and count was…BUT WE’RE STILL STANDING! And for that fact, we have every reason to be a thankful people.

Contrary to popular “ushy-gushy”, “feel-good”, “don’t offend anybody” teaching, God HAS NOT promised a perfect primrose path for people that follow Him. Much in contrast, the Lord has indeed told us very clearly that we will experience times of tribulation in this life (John 16:32) and has expressly warned us that the afflictions of this world are many – even to His own people (Psalm 34:19). However, He has also promised to deliver us from these tribulations and to walk with us even through the darkest of valleys (Psalm 23:4). Consider this thought with me…Perhaps it is the unseen hand of the Living God that has allowed the difficulty to come our way while at the same time protecting us and guiding us through it. If that is true – and I believe it is – then He is the reason we are STILL STANDING!

That old cross on the ridge is a little more faded than it was back in the Spring…but it is STILL STANDING. Some nasty weeds grew up around it and tried to conceal it, but it is STILL STANDING. It took more than a few licks, but it is STILL STANDING. And so are you! You took some hard punches, experienced some deep hurts, and endured some serious uncertainty – but you are STILL STANDING! In light of these realities my dear friend, I implore you to KEEP STANDING! In 2021…Stand for good in bad situations. Stand for right in a world gone wrong. Stand for truth when lies abound. KEEP STANDING! And as we stand – perhaps broken, battered, and bruised – on one of life’s windy ridges or on a storm-tossed sea…STILL STANDING, I’ll see you in the Great Outdoors!