COFFEE TALK WITH GOD — Peace in calm or stormy water

Published 7:15 am Friday, April 12, 2019

I know that my redeemer lives. That’s what Job said in chapter 19 verse 25. He’s the one that lost everything and wrestled verbally with God and his friends lamenting and pleading, yet never doubting the existence of God. I admit there is much yet to be gleaned from Job, but that statement is a truth in my life, today.

When I awoke, after having my coffee talk with God, I still needed more. I can feel the calm before the storm, or maybe it is after one — last weekend was the fourth annual Books Along the Teche Literary Festival. After two days of running around from sunup to past sundown, I was weak getting out of bed for my Sunday morning commitment at the boat launch. But the instant I saw the faces of the bus load of visitors from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, all the weariness was at bay, my energy returned. “There are all my people!” I exclaimed as they walked to the docks where boats would take them on a tour of the waterway that runs through our town — it’s only my second trip on the water. Last year’s TECHE Project assisted program was my first.

There is a calm in my soul. Monday night I passed along a sketch of something Holy Spirit put in my heart 25 years ago, something I’ve believed could be incubated here in New Iberia before expanding across the nation. Could it be, Lord? Only God knows. I’ll do my part — little did I know that included handing it off to someone else to consider without hearing my input. I decided it was best that God give the revelation, if it is truly from Him.

So why, after coffee, prayer and journaling did I crawl onto the “pod” couch and cover myself with a lap blanket like a cocoon? I needed the womb-warmth of solitude with God. No distractions, nothing to fix my eyes on except quiet prayer. Change is in the air.

I realized the last couple of days a settling, a peace in my soul, a focus that has not always been part of my life recently. My brain carries so many thoughts and ideas. People comment all the time, “I know you are so busy,” but in reality, sometimes the busy-ness is just in my brain. That requires rest — of the body and the mind.

Sometimes sleep is my only shut-off value for the confusion tormenting me. The peace comes when I stop planning and just “be” where and when God wants me to be. Separation from that consciousness is when I get into trouble — trying to figure something out that God is not yet ready for me to know. I’m amazed always when he directs my steps carrying me places new and unknown. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step — and one step at a time is how we arrive at our destiny.

Perhaps I should go back and do some study on Job, except what I want to take away from that book is the end result — God is in charge. I just need to trust Him and obey — okay, still working on that one.

“Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me,” Job 23:1-5 — thus I retreat to the blanket to examine my own heart, before he does, and judges me unworthy.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise,” Psalms & Proverbs.

VICKY BRANTON is Teche Life editor of The Daily Iberian.