Dancing in the mine field...

My dad is a veteran of WW2. Growing up he would share many humorous battle stories.  I would laugh every time he would tell the tale of when he was in a fox hole under fire. He was scared and with bullets zinging over head he was sure he was shot.  He could feel the warm liquid flow down his leg, he yelled for a medic only to realize it was his canteen that had taken the fatal shot.  

But among his tales of humor, there were tales of hardship as well. One of them was when he and another solider were sent out on a recon mission. They came upon an open field.  My dad’s friend went first and stepped on a mine, losing his life.

When I think of a mine field I think how each step you take could be your last.  You have to be so very careful, so very controlled. There is no room for error. It takes all your concentration. 

There is a song I heard on the radio by Andrew Peterson called, Dancing in the Minefield. How do you dance in a mine field?  How could you abandon your fears and be that free?  

I see the trials and tribulations as minefields in my life.  When hard times come how do I handle them?  Do I trust God or do I try to control the outcome somehow? Do I try to calculate my steps each day trying to avoid trials, afraid that the next step could cause troubles to blow up in my face?  Am thinking I can control the outcome?

 

The word of God says; The steps of a righteous man (and woman) are ordered of the Lord (Psalm 37:23.)

Do I believe that?  Can I trust that the creator of the Universe loves me enough to order my steps, to take me through the mine fields of my life? When things blow up, because trust me things will and do blow up, do I find myself resting in His loving arms?

I have come to realize that the answer is YES! I can trust Him because He is trustworthy.   He walks with me through the fires of life.

 If I abandon my control, He will dance with me in the mine fields of my life.  I don’t walk or dance alone.  I dance with the lover of my soul and when I do when I hear His song washing over me; I experience a peace that knows no bounds, a joy that has no end.

I used to sing a song when my kids were little; Keep your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace…

When I look into His eyes and allow Him to walk with me through the trials, when I abandon all control, He takes me dancing.

So let’s go dancing in the mine fields.  Let’s take the hand of God and trust like never before because, He wants this dance!