Jesus. The Rock. The Provider. Our Hope.

Jesus. The Rock. The Provider. Our Hope.

Last week, I went to Narnia. Well, I felt like I was in Narnia. I mean, check out that picture. One of the reasons I love C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia (and there are so many reasons) is that it reminds me of what it is to be a child - the awe and wonder and innocence of believing the seemingly impossible. And the past few days spent in an estate in Armonk, NY felt like walking through the wardrobe right along with Lucy.

It was magical and restoring.

While bundled up from two and a half feet of snow (didn’t mean to bring the winter weather back…), with three of my dearest friends, I spent a lot of time reflecting over the last months. It has been an adventure. A lot has happened. To all of us. As I listened to my friends share their stories on being furloughed, isolated, scared of living in the middle of Manhattan during a pandemic, I heard a common thread: Jesus. He is the rock, He is the provider, He is our Hope. Our reflections made me think often about the Pevensie children in Chronicles of Narnia - I thought of Aslan and how the kids and creatures love him, trust him, and LOOK for him even and especially when they are terrified. Despite bad things happening in Narnia, they know Aslan will always prevail. Oh what comfort.

One moment in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader particularly stands out to me as Lucy and Edmund plead with Aslan as their time in Narnia has come to an end:  

"It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
   "But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
   "Are — are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
   "I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

It was easy, while in my own little Narnia, to forget the cares of the world, to focus on Jesus and spend quality time with Him. I find myself wondering why I do not feel as close to Jesus on the plane ride back, or on a Tuesday in traffic. It is clear I am not looking - because he is here. He is unchanging and He is working, providing, comforting all who call on Him.
So we have a choice.
We have a choice to LOOK for Jesus as this adventure unfolds with all of the crazy twists and turns.
We have a choice to REFLECT and TELL of all He has done and trust Him again.

So let’s do it. I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to reflect on those times when He provided, He showed up, He comforted you - the moment you decided to follow Him.

AND TELL THOSE STORIES.

For in remembering and experiencing those testimonies, we will remember what He has done, and we will watch expectantly for what He is doing. A really cool way to start that conversation with your kids could be doing a family read aloud of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Thank you so much to all of you who wrote me back after last week’s email. So many words of encouragement and well wishes on my new home. I am very touched and encouraged. I am praying for all of us to have eyes to see and ears to hear this week. And remember, you are not in this alone.
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