This time of year when my flowers are quickly fading or gone, I enjoy getting into the woods to deer hunt. I enjoy my walk to the stand before light in the morning and walking out at dusk dark almost as much as sitting on the stand watching the squirrels, racoons, birds, and falling leaves…..and waiting on that big 6 or 8 point buck that I have watched on my game cams for the past two months. The dimly lit and dark paths in the woods are calming and quiet for me. Oh, how I wish those dimly lit and dark paths in life were the same.

Those dark paths in life are usually anything but calming and quiet. In fact, they feel scary, unstable, uncontrollable, and hopeless most of the time. It’s a viscious cycle of hurry up and wait…..waiting on the text, the email, or the phone call that you think will offer the answer that has been elusive for days, weeks, months, or even longer. Helpless. Isolated. Alone. Dark…..all those feelings can be so overwhelming.

When I went to bed last night, I began my prayers by saying, “Lord, if my mind starts to wander or if I go to sleep, please let the Holy Spirit pray for me.” Almost immediately, I began to dream. When I realized it, I prayed, “Lord, my mind is wandering already.” I don’t remember anything else until I woke up 4 hours later…then I immediately went back to sleep and slept until right before my alarm went off. What’s so crazy about that is I haven’t slept more than 3 or 4 hours for the past 8 nights. Last night, I truly believe that my Heavenly Father said, “Sleep, my daughter. I know your requests. I know your needs. I know your heart. Be still…..and rest in the safety of My hands tonight.” What a gracious, loving Father we have.

God always knows what we need, and He always provides it….in His time, right on time…..even when we walk those dimly lit and dark paths of life…..even when we are waiting on that text, email, or call…..even then, we are never alone. Our Heavenly Father is sitting right with us offering us His peace and assurance that even this dark, scary path is part of journey He is leading us on…..and even though it looks and feels overwhelming, it’s just a tiny speck on the beautiful story that He has be writing since before time began.