Last week, my wife kept me company on an overnight, work-related road trip. I normally undertake these excursions on my own, so it was nice to have someone to talk to, as opposed to me always talking to myself, which, incidentally, my wife says I do a lot. A few hours into our journey, we stopped at a familiar Christian bookstore, not only to stretch but also to allow my better half to shop and thus procure a few items for our grandchildren. On that particular day, I was feeling anxious about a number of things, and instead of throwing them back at God and allowing Him to deal with them, I was dragging them along with me.
I’ll admit that walking around the bookstore was a nice break, but it wasn’t long before I began to look at my watch. There was still a long drive ahead, and I was feeling antsy as my business mode kicked in and my overactive mind juggled a myriad of thoughts and a lengthy to-do list. It was then God slapped me where I stood—not a physical slap, of course, but an eye-opening God-wink—that when I lifted my head beyond the shelves of merchandise and up towards the back wall of the store, I literally stopped in my tracks as I noticed the following words in large black letters—a sudden reminder that I needed to relax and receive a much-needed blessing.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6: 24-26 NIV)
I stood in place for a long minute, basking afresh in those words as I read them over several times. The Lord bless you and keep you. “Me, Lord? You will bless and keep me, even when I don’t deserve it?” The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. “You see me, Lord, and you would shine your ever-lasting light upon my messy life and show me grace when I often try to do things on my own?” The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. “You would single me out, Lord? Stop what you are doing and turn your face toward me? Seriously? Then you would grant my heart and soul peace? Me Lord?”
I’m honestly surprised that store security didn’t suddenly usher me from the store—a frozen-in-place customer with his mouth open and his lips moving, but nothing actually coming out! I read the verse one last time and then pulled out my phone to snap a picture as a reminder of how much God loves me and cares for me, and how much he wants me to trust in him when I can’t trust in myself. And more importantly, when chaos reigns supreme in this world and in my life, I can rest in God’s peace.
My dear friend, please take a moment to fully absorb the words on the wall—the comforting passage that hit me like a ton of bricks when I needed it the most. God loves you. He will bless you and keep you. He will make His face shine upon you and show you unending grace. He will always have time for you and will keep His face turned toward you throughout your entire life. And best of all, His peace will inhabit your heart and soul when you need it the most.
And all you have to do is open your eyes, lift your head, and let Him in.
Paul Smyth
