“But not yet weary are our feet”

“Still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate.” Tolkien.

I won’t lie, this year has been tough. I still feel hugely blessed in so many areas but ministry over the last 12 months has been a bit of a muddy, uphill, arduous, slog! Ok, so maybe I was a little dramatic there, but I want to be honest, it’s been hard. There are so many words that come to mind; unsettled, unknown, inconsistent and uncertain. All of these words are linked to how unpredictable the world seems to be at the moment, but more than that, maybe we are all lamenting a certain control and ‘knowing’ about life. Of course, life by its definition is unpredictable and actually embracing the uniqueness and preciousness of each day can be so freeing and life-giving. Around 3 years ago we were all probably making plans, having a schedule, trusting in what we have been preparing for. Then, well we all know what happened!

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:29-31

It’s hard to live this ‘kingdom-seeking’ way; not planning or thinking about tomorrow! But surely that’s what trust is, allowing ourselves to be held in the hands of someone who knows what we love, knows what we need, knows what we long for. There can be no better way of walking into an unknown and uncertain season than doing it held by God, who is not surprised or unsettled by any of life’s tremors.

In a few days time 2023 will begin, a new page will appear in our calendars and it may, or may not, be filling up with various plans. I am seeking to arrive at the start of 2023 with a sense of ‘not done yet’ about me. I am working towards writing a book with that exact title because I believe that even in this season of struggle God longs to still work through my calling and my ministry. So on the first day of January I hope to have my eyes open, my head up and my heart aligned ready for all God is leading me towards. I don’t need to know everything, I need to trust. This has been my journey lately; to know less but see God more. I want to enter 2023 aware that God will take me down ‘new roads’ and enable me to stumble upon ‘secret gates’, as a self-confessed planner and occasional control freak, it is not easy. But as I pause and imagine discovering unknown, untravelled (by me anyway) routes, I am excited. God doesn’t take us down the wrong road, he guides us, shows us, leads us. Sometimes we get distracted or choose short cuts to what he has planned for us, but God never takes us anywhere he doesn’t believe is the very best for us.

This year my current calling as 267 Director has definitely been challenged, even the very future of 267 itself hasn’t seemed that secure. This has been a huge challenge and weight for me but within it, my own skills, calling and gifts have been affirmed in a greater way. What I am called to has not changed, but maybe the where and how has? I am absolutely not saying that 267 is done, but I am sensing from God that 267 in the future is going to look very, very different to the 267 of the past. If God wants to continue to use me within 267 but with a very different 267 rhythm and shape then I am up for that, more than you know.

If you find yourself unable to see into the next season, if you find yourself shaken by the instability of the past 12 months, I want to encourage you that you are not alone, and also know that God cannot be shaken. His calling on your life is exactly that, ‘HIS’ calling, gifted to you so that you may discover a full abundant life through the way he has made you. Maybe our learning from these past few years is that time is utterly precious and we mustn’t get caught up in worrying about tomorrow or lamenting too much about what happened yesterday. God often just shows us the next step or two, any more and we might possibly rush ahead and miss what He has for us.

Tolkien also writes these words in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ –

But not yet weary are our feet,

Still round the corner we may meet

A sudden tree or standing stone

That none have seen but we alone.

I deeply believe that God is not done with 267 yet, but our ministry is likely to look very different from what it has done, because the world looks so very different from what it has done. I have no doubt that just ‘round the corner’ God has something that will stabilise us and allow us to confidently walk into this next season.

We have before us a God who knows what we need and is willing to give it to us. Even if I cannot see what is coming, even if my human plans are fragile and uncertain, in Him I must trust. I want to say to God loudly “but not yet weary are our feet” – I want to follow where you are leading, even if it is currently out of sight for me. “If God is for us…!”