Just Passing Through

One of my all time favorite songs from my all time favorite song writer who sings for one of my all time favorite bands says this…

Wish I had what I needed to be on my own
’Cause I feel so defeated and I'm feeling alone
And it all seems so helpless and I have no plans
I'm a plane in the sunset with nowhere to land

And all I see It could never make me happy
And all my sand castles spend their time collapsing
And I feel stuck watching history repeating
Yeah, who am I just a kid who knows he's needy

Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
Let that be enough

(Switchfoot) 

Though the sentiment in this song rings true in most seasons of my life, it has resounded loud and clear during quarantine. We have no idea where we will land, and everywhere you look there is collapsing sand. 

Now, from this sentiment of discomfort, it would be easy to fall into nihilistic existentialism. But there is another way to go. The writers of the Bible consistently associated this sentiment with the concept of sojourning. We, the children of God, are just passing through. We are pilgrims headed for an unseen shore. We are citizens of heaven even though we live on earth. Without being melodramatic, Hebrews 11 describes Abraham as a hopeful stranger in a foreign land, looking for a city with eternal foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

The Bible writers do not despair in the face of discomfort. They actually find hope. For them, the heartache, confusion, and lack of fulfillment in this life becomes proof that the distant shore exists.

Deep within us there is a longing for home. A home where we truly belong. A home with the Father and Creator of everything. The unsettled longing was put there by God like a compass in our soul to lead us back home. Each time we groan under the weight of discomfort, we can rejoice knowing we are one step closer to home, one day closer to forever, and one breath closer to breathing in heaven’s abundant skies. 

Today, as you once again find yourself dissatisfied with yourself, your life, your society, and homeschool, look to the skies and reach your hands towards heaven and say:

Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You are near me
And let that be enough.

God bless you and help you turn your weariness into the wonder of what is to come. It is a good thing to long for the return of Christ. 

David

p.s. Living Streams family, we are staying alert to the news and, at the same time, making plans for our re-opening. We believe there will be a few phases between our current closure and full reopening, and we hope to make the most of it. Stay tuned for details.