Take a Closer Look

Week Five | Fifty-Two 2.5.21

One of my favorite pictures of my father-in-law~ also known as Dad and Grandaddy to our family ~ captures him in one of his all-time favorite happy places. On a boat, with his boys.

And right now, we’d give anything to be on the water again, with this man who laughs deep from his belly.

This man who can tell a (big:) story like no one else I’ve ever met.

This man who can fix anything, anytime and always.

This same strong man that we adore is now fragile, fighting for his life in ICU Room no. 7. And I’ve heard the whisper of the One who holds his life together say,

Come closer. Don’t be afraid.

Just as He did thirteen years ago, as my husband ~ my father-in-law’s oldest son ~ fought for his life in *this very room.

A room that felt like an all-consuming fire.

A room where God met us with new mercies every single morning, as we kept careful watch, night and day.

A room where God kept us from being consumed by the flames of fear, sickness, and the odds stacked against us.

A room where a miracle broke through.

A room that became holy ground.

And once again, a room that we’re choosing by faith to see God right in the middle of, holding *his hand, working *His* glory story. Even and especially when we can’t be near the man who our hearts ache to bring home. 

There’s a story of another man named Moses, who encountered a flaming room of his own. A room called a burning bush, in the middle of a mountain.

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. This is amazing, Moses said to himself. Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

When the Lord saw Moses coming to

take a closer look,

God called to him from the middle of the bush, Moses! Moses!

‘Here I am!’ Moses replied.

Do not come any closer, the Lord warned. Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” (Exodus 3)

We don’t know what the end of this journey holds for my beloved father-in-law. And it’s really, really hard. Indeed, the days feel like years.

But what we do know is that we don’t want to miss God-in-the-middle. 

So we will keep drawing close to Him every day. 

We will ask and believe Him for healing.

We will watch for His signs and wonders.

We will cry and ask hard questions. 

We will worship. 

And we will tell this glory story. Because no matter what, something holy is happening. 

May we always have hope-enough to

take a closer look. You never know what mighty mystery you may just see.