I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” explores this life attached to the One True Vine.

“Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear …” Psalms 112:6-8

Never shaken … remembered … no fear of bad news … steadfast … trusting … secure … no fear.  This scripture passage doesn’t say the righteous man will never experience hearing bad news, bad news will come, but the righteous man will not fear it.  In the face of bad news the righteous man is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. How I would love to see these qualities characterize my life. 

The last week of life has been a challenge for me. Long laid plans were changed and then completely canceled. A day that was full of joy ended up also being full of deep pain. A couple of primary relationships in my life encountered some struggles that perplexed me and brought out my desire to impact and control things. And I spent a day soaking in tears again … something I’ve not done in a while.

In all of this, God has been faithful. I’ve experienced turmoil, and God gave me the freedom to completely express that turmoil to Him and wait on Him to answer. And He has answered … His message to me is simply ‘wait’. Don’t try to control the situations, don’t manipulate, don’t run away, don’t change anything. Wait.

Life’s situations – even those I’m in the middle of – aren’t always about ‘me’ or my happiness. Sometimes I get to sit in the situations squirming and uncomfortable, but present and praying. Waiting. What will God do? How will He redeem these situations? What does He want to accomplish through that which appears to be a shaking mess to me? I don’t know, but I trust Him immensely. He has shown Himself faithful over and over and over again in my life. He is present and speaking and not the God who is distant and silent. I know His character and I know He loves me and mine completely and without reservation. So I’ll wait and trust and be stirred, but not shaken. My heart is secure and I will have no fear.

“Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”  Isaiah 30:20-22