Evie Polsley is a suburban woman at coronary heart however has been transformed to a Nationwide Parks fan by her superb husband. Although they dwell within the Midwest, they’ve taken their daughters to a Nationwide Park a minimum of annually since their oldest was born 16 years in the past. The one factor Evie loves greater than being along with her household as they discovering new expressions of God’s superb creation is exploring God’s Phrase. Evie is a member of the Bible Crew at Tyndale Home Publishers, the place she helps present sources to folks of all ages who need to higher perceive the Bible and apply it to their lives. It’s a pleasure to welcome Evie Polsley to the farm’s desk at the moment…
Visitor Submit by Evie Polsley
“Your phrase is a lamp to information my toes and a light-weight for my path.” Psalm 119:105, NLT
I’ve by no means been “outdoorsy.” Rising up, when my household would go tenting, certainly one of my favourite instances was when it could rain, forcing us to remain in our camper and play board video games. My husband, however, is a Nationwide Park nut. Now we have Nationwide Park posters hanging up in our home, our household has Ken Burns’ The Nationwide Parks: America’s Finest Concept documentary collection on replay, and I now personal mountaineering boots.
As somebody who’s scared to demise of heights, has a horrible sense of course, and has watched manner too many reels about bears being in locations they shouldn’t, the concept of mountaineering by way of woods and mountains makes my worst-case state of affairs mindset go into hyperdrive.
Considered one of our first hikes at Yosemite Nationwide Park was on a path that had a steep drop-off proper alongside a waterfall, which made the “steps” slippery.
I clung to my husband, Kevin, and tried with every thing in me to push by way of, however concern quickly took over, and I ended up scooting down the steps, unable to face up.
Via a whole lot of frustration, embarrassment, concern, and anger, Kevin lastly satisfied me to take another route that might be longer however not as steep. As we hiked switchback to switchback, I began complaining: “Are we going the proper manner?” “That is taking eternally.” “We’re misplaced! There isn’t a manner we’re going the proper manner.” Kevin checked out me and mentioned, “I’ve a map. I’ve a plan. It’s going to be okay. Simply take my hand and relaxation for a minute.”
As I held his hand, stopping to have a look at attention-grabbing formations or vegetation alongside the way in which, my fears started to dissipate, and I began to get pleasure from it. Once we made it to the tip of the path, I used to be mesmerized.
” If I had let concern management me, I by no means would have skilled God’s energy and closeness in a manner I by no means may have imagined.”
I gazed round me on the splendor and majesty of the mountains, heard the gushing of the waterfall, and felt its reviving spray on my pores and skin. Respiration within the scent of nature in its pure kind and seeing God’s magnificent creating expertise on full show, I used to be transfixed. And I virtually missed this life-enriching expertise as a result of I used to be afraid. If I had let concern management me, I by no means would have skilled God’s energy and closeness in a manner I by no means may have imagined. Standing close to Navada Falls, Psalm 8 got here roaring to life:
“Once I have a look at the evening sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the celebrities you set in place—what are mere mortals that you must take into consideration them, human beings that you must look after them? But you made them solely a little bit decrease than God and topped them with glory and honor. You gave them cost of every thing you made, placing all issues beneath their authority—the flocks and the herds and all of the wild animals, the birds within the sky, the fish within the sea, and every thing that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic title fills the earth!” (Psalm 8:3-9, NLT).
I believe generally I method the Bible like I do mountaineering. I’m overwhelmed by its enormity, I don’t know methods to sort out it, and I’m scared one thing would possibly chunk me (okay not likely, however I’m scared I’ll be pushed out of my consolation zone). Do I miss a part of God’s superb presence as a result of Leviticus appears boring or Ezekiel seems like an excessive amount of to deal with?
“Do I miss a part of God’s superb presence as a result of Leviticus appears boring or Ezekiel seems like an excessive amount of to deal with?“
To be utterly trustworthy, generally I keep away from studying the Bible as a result of I really feel unworthy or not good sufficient to know it. I keep away from the attractive view of who God is as a result of I’m afraid of failing or trying silly.
However once I relinquish these fears and doubts, once I take God’s hand and say, like Eli instructed Samuel, “Converse, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10), I’m transfixed by the great thing about his Phrase simply as I’m in awe of his creation. Even in the course of the prolonged switchback parts of the Bible that may appear troublesome or boring, simply realizing I’m strolling with and listening to God will help me push by way of.
The Bible is a information for us to higher perceive who God is and who we’re in him, however we don’t need to dash by way of it. It’s a whole story, however God additionally needs us to cease and revel in his goodness, basking in parts of Scripture alongside the way in which.
Bear in mind, God’s Phrase is a lamp to information our toes, not a floodlight that illuminates your entire manner.
Take God’s hand, calm down in his presence, and benefit from the journey.
