A Shaky Foundation

I will preface the comments in this entry in my blog with a disclaimer. It is not my intention to offend any happy city dwellers. I made a solemn vow to my sister-in-law that when we moved I would not become an “L.A. Basher” so understand dear readers, that I may consider the theme song to Green Acres my own, but I understand this is not the case for everyone (and a good thing or we would all be living in the same place!)

I moved from L.A. and left so much of my stress behind. The ramped up city lifestyle was wearing on me. Road rage, traffic jams, smog, crime, graffiti, earthquakes. I had had enough. The city held no joy for me and I was longing to return to a more rural lifestyle. A life that offered the richness of afternoon walks, nearby fishing streams and wildlife in abundance.

Living is this pastoral beauty surrounded by mountains and tall trees, seeing deer graze behind my fence (and we live in town), traveling down the main street to my house with a maximum posted speed limit of 25mph was all good to me. I began to unwind. I began to feel safe. I began to feel rested and revived. I began to walk that slippery slope that said, “I am renewed in this place. I am safe in this place. This place brings me peace.”

All of those feelings became like the powdery dust of shattered glass at about 9:20pm last night. I was relaxing in the living room when I began to hear a quiet roar. The sound was somewhat familiar but I could not place it. Then I began to feel the floor softly rolling and soon I heard the “tinkle, tinkle” of the crystal drops in the dining room chandelier as the slight swaying back and forth caused them to touch. Then the house began to shake. EARTHQUAKE! I was in complete shock as my mind tried to wrap itself around what was happening. I live in the Northwest. There ARE NO EARTHQUAKES! How could this be? I left L.A. to get away from this! By the time those questions ran through my mind, the quake was gone. My fear was not.

My safety barrier had been violated. I was exposed; I was no longer in that place of calm. What was I going to do now??????

For the past few months the Lord has been dealing with my issues of disappointment and hurt through the things others have said and done. I was finally getting it….people really will fail me just as I will fail others. I need to go to GOD, not to others for comfort. This truth was sinking in; I was moving along with the concept and making real progress.

When the enemy couldn’t get in that door anymore, he slipped in through the side and began to work on my issues of trusting a place for peace and comfort instead of God. So God literally shook me out of my fog and reminded me that it isn't only people I should not put my trust and hope in but things and places as well. I can be thankful to Him for bringing me to this beautiful place, I can rejoice in the loveliness and the richness of life here but I cannot ever forget that that it’s not a woodland meadow or a tree in my back yard that is my refuge, it is God and God alone.

How thankful I am for that little shake up I had last night. How wonderful to know that my God is my protector and my strength. What a relief to know that He is my refuge and that my true peace and joy does not depend on my address.

"Lord, since I have been understanding the concept lately of seeing with the eyes of my heart I am beginning to see what a battlefield I live in. I am also rejoicing in the fact that, through You, I hold all the power over the enemy. He has been trying so hard to shake my foundation, hurt my ministry , my life, my heart and push me off this path you have set my feet on so firmly. Thank you for yet another victory over him and thank You for the many more to come. Thank you for your love and protection that never changes and is not dependant on where I live or what I do.”

The LORD is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Psalm 23: 1-3 (NLT)