Journeyman Journal: For the Trouble Ahead and the Joy Beyond

Nobody told me that the road would be easy,

I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.

(James Cleveland)

In my childhood days I heard a gospel group’s recording of this song and the lead singer had a great vocal howl and screech. They would repeat that last line and I can still hear him screech the ‘I don’t believe’ line. It makes me chuckle now, not out of derision, just out of appreciation for that man’s vocals.

Now, however, as I recall the song and that lyric there’s a greater poignancy in seeing how it refers to a journey. A journey that clearly goes over a fair amount of terrain. That terrain is not smooth clearly. In fact from time to time the path maybe highly hazardous. What I appreciate about following Jesus is that He has made it patently clear that everyone who wants to follow Him has to come across trouble at some juncture. It’s a part of the process of following – it’s that way because Jesus, Himself is at odds with the status quo. The way things are and people have been content to have them is not how Jesus will have them. He comes in with grace and kindness, but He still comes in with the rule of righteousness and the call to holiness. That rubs people up the wrong way. It can cause a few issues to say the least. If Jesus had opposition, it makes sense that those that follow Him will likewise face opposition. If the opposition that Jesus faced came from a variety of angles including from His own folks, then it shouldn’t come as a surprise when even those we call our own turn on us and present resistance.

The road is not easy. There is trouble behind you, trouble beside you and trouble ahead of you.

What Jesus does guarantee, however, is that as you make steps with Him, He is right there with you. He is not just there with you, but as you place trust in Him, He is there for you and empowers you to endure. He wants you to keep on keeping on because of what is beyond the trouble and what can stimulate joy going through the trouble. The trouble can appear overwhelming at times, but the hope that awaits us – the living hope is so much greater than the trouble. That hope is eternity in a scenario where all troubles have ceased, where all opposition is defeated forever and where Jesus the Hope of Salvation is our Light forever more.

That’s why you don’t have to believe that He who brought you as far as you’ve reached is going to leave you. He won’t leave you there because that’s not your resting place. He won’t leave you because you belong to Him and it’s His desire for you to enjoy eternity with Him.

If you believe that, it should give you a prompt to take a look at the One that you believe in. As you behold this Shepherd, this Friend, this Lord who took you out of darkness to bring you to light. You look at Him and your vision grows as you appreciate that you can never see all that He is. You look at Him and celebrate because of His great character and how awesome He is.

That helps in the journey for the trouble ahead. It helps going through. You may not be able to screech like that vocalist, but in your own way you can sing with this fella, that you don’t believe, He brought you this far, to leave you.

(Photo by Philipp Kämmerer on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden