LOST!

Today I am thinking back on a day in my youth that I want to tell you about. It was mid-fall, the leaves were in full colors . . . yellow, brown, red and gold, the wind was blowing some of them off the trees and it was lightly raining making the ground soaked. My brother and I were deer hunting in the Baker River Wilderness, high up in the hills of Eastern Skagit County in Western Washington State. We had decided to split up in hopes of pushing a deer out into sight. After awhile, I saw a good sized buck and I began to slowly walk toward him. Of course, he saw me and started moving. I pursued! So excited about that buck, I failed to keep track of my where-abouts, and in spite of my best efforts to track him, I did not see that deer again. It was now later in the day, and I was beginning to realize that darkness was not too far off. Looking around, I decided to make tracks of my own and head out of the dense woods in search of my brother. But, I did not know where I was or which way to go. So, of course being fifteen years of age, I panicked! I became fearful and made the poor choice to hurry. I abandoned all I knew in my head about staying in one place and I started to run; well as much as I could in such dense wooded area.

My feet would fall into shallow holes in the ground, I tripped over logs and low hanging branches would snap me in the face and on my head. But, I kept going, out of fear, worry and desperation! By now, I was scratched, bleeding, bruised and my legs were becoming weak . Finally, from utter fatigue, I stopped. I really don't know why, but the old American folk song I had heard on the radio in my folk's car kept running in my mind. "Down In The Valley", also known as "Hear The Wind Blow", was that song. Some of the lyrics I still remember: "Down in the valley, the valley so low. Hang your head over, hear the wind blow." That was about my situation; there in the deep forest.

I was not physically in a valley, but emotionally I was! My head was certainly hanging down, due to pain, discouragement and anxiety, and hearing the wind blowing was the only sound I heard, except for the occasional cracking of tree limbs.

BUT, you know what? It was in my stopping that I was able to assess my situation! I first had to recognize and admit that I was lost! My surroundings hadn't changed. . .it was still raining, foggy, and darkness was beginning to settle in. But in the stillness of stopping from my running, I could confess my fear and admit that I was helpless. I then started to pray, I asked God for His presence and His help in my delimma. I told God of my fear, admitted I was lost and scared; quite an admission for a teen-ager, right?

Well, there is a point to my story. I have felt compelled to write this blog. I always do sense some spiritual direction as I write, and this time it was just compelling. Someone readering this needs this message. I believe that YOU may feel lost, battered, bruised and beaten up spiritually! You may have physical needs, emotional concerns or spiritual challenges, or a combination of all three. You may feel God has abandoned you, has let you down; you doubt His love, His goodness and His Word. Your spiritual assurance of His mercy and abiding grace have vanished. You find it really hard to read His Word (the Bible), to pray, to trust Him and you struggle with what you truly believe about God, the Bible, salvation, eternal life, His promises, etc. You may even be in what I call "the devil's workshop", where he is beating you up, sowing seeds of doubt, defeat and disallusionment. You're "down in the valley", with your spirit "hanging over" and all you are hearing is the "winds" of adversity and oppression.

Back to the end of my story for a moment. As I did what I knew I was supposed to do (stay put and WAIT) I heard something in the distance. It sounded like a distant and "small voice," calling my name. I listened intently and heard it repeatedly. I knew it was my brother searching for me and calling for me. As I listened and waited, his voice became clearer and closer and I began moving slowly in the direction of it. After some time, following his voice calling, now sounding more like a "shout-out", I came out of the woods onto a narrow dirt road. In the distance there I saw my brother and he was now running to me. I was rescued and was thankful God answered my prayer, and for my brother's love, concern and faithfulness in seeking to find me.

Whatever your story is, you need the TRUTH! I urge you to believe the truth of God and NOT the lies of satan! You may be LOST in:

- fear, discouragement, or frustration,

- depression, defeat, disallusionment or despondency,

- unbelief, faithlessness, or trustlessness,

- worry, anxiety or uncertainty,

- a sense of hopelessness or helplessness,

- sin or rebellion against God

If you are lost in the dense fog and wilderness of any of the above, you need help, direction and the truth, and here it is:

1) STOP right where you are; quit running!

2) Assess your whereabouts, surroundings, seek to determine the source of your lostness. More often than not, the source is spiritual in nature, rather than physical, emotional or material. Perhaps the devil has gained the upper hand, or maybe you have grown spiritually indifferent, or un- committed or non-passionate in your love and devotion to God.

3) Listen intently! You do this by seeking spiritual truth, guidance, and direction from God, His Word and in prayer. Sometimes the God who thundered from Mt. Sinai speaks loudly to us, but more often He speaks in quiet ways, The Prophet Elijah, when he was "down in the valley" of despair and in need of hearing from God, learned that God rarely speaks through strong wind, a great earthquake or fire, but "through a sound of a gentle blowing" (I Kings 19:11-12). Some translations say, "a still small voice." The original language (Hebrew) says, "a breath of a whisper!" We must be listening or we may well miss His voice!

4) Move toward God! Use His Word (voice) and prayer to determine the direction in which to find Him. The Bible says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). IF He feels a long way off, maybe you have moved away from Him. I'm reminded of this older Gospel Song:

"Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone? Does the road you travel harbor dangers yet un-known? Are you growin' weary in the struggle of it all? Jesus will help you when on His name you call!

He is always there hearing every prayer, faithful and true. Walking by our side, in His love we hide all the day through. When you get discouraged, just remember what to do, Reach out to Jesus, He's reaching out to you."

Another of my favorite Gospel Hymns, written by Thomas Dorsey in 1932:

"Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the Light. Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home!

When the darkness appears, and the night draws near. When my life is almost gone. Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall. Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home!"

I am concerned that some of my readers may be sensing that darkness is appearing, the night for you seems overwhelming; you're tired, weak and worn! To you, I want to give you assurance that God loves you, cares for you and desires to help, strengthen and keep you! You must talk with Jesus! He'll make it right as this song says,

"Sometimes my path seems drear, without a ray of cheer. And then a cloud of doubt may hide the light of day. The mists of sin may rise and hide the starry skies, BUT just a little talk with Jesus clears the way.

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears, BUT Jesus is a friend who watches day and night. I go to Him in prayer; He knows my every care. And just a little talk with Jesus makes it right."

And to those who may be LOST in SIN, I want to let you know God can and will forgive you of ALL your sins, cleanse you from ALL unrighteousness and give you the gift of eternal life to be with Him forever! This forgiveness of sin, cleansing from unrighteousness and eternal life is in Jesus Christ alone! The Scripture is so clear. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12) and it is "by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. . . ." (Acts 4:10). "If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

NO ONE has to stay LOST! We do not have to remain in the lostness of discouragement, defeat or of sin! Jesus Christ can and will rescue you from any and all experiences of being LOST!

We must all be born again to start with; we must surrender to Jesus! We must be born of the Spirit of God! Jesus said, "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from or where it is going; so everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). We may not understand how it all works, but we know the words of Jesus are absolutely true! He also said,

"You must be born again" (John 3:7). HEAR THE WIND BLOW!