I see the road ahead of me
Far, far in the distance, a palace shining bright
But I have taken my eyes off the road in front of me
A rock has tripped me
And I fall, scraping my knee.
I cry out, "Why am I here now?"
"Why didn't you smooth the path?"
I feel the support of a hand lifting me up,
An encouraging voice saying, "Take my hand, I am with you."
I ask, "May I rest?"
But my companion leads me to a hill and says "Rest in me"
"Will I never have relief?"
I hear again, "Rest in me."
How can I rest when there is a hill to walk up?
I push forward
He must think I can climb this hill if He brought me here
I can't rest now, there is work to be done
It becomes harder and harder
And I stop part way up the hill.
I cry out, "Why am I here now?"
"Why did you bring me to this hill?"
I see a clear stream of water just next to me that I missed before
And my companion says, "Drink deeply, I will give you life"
I ask, "May I rest?"
But a storm is coming, and my guide says, "Rest in me"
"I must find shelter!"
All I hear is, "Rest in me."
How can I rest when there is a storm coming?
I run, looking for cover, some shelter
There must be a place to hide from the storm He sent
As the rain begins to pour down,
I feel the water soaking through my clothes and into my skin
I cry out, "Why am I here now?"
"Why would you send a storm and no shelter?"
But I feel a hand take mine to guide me
Ahead is a cleft in a rock, out of the rain
And my helper says, "Take refuge here, I am your strength."
I ask, "May I rest?"
The storm is clearing and the sun blazes forth, I hear again, "Rest in me"
I set off to bask in the sun's rays, thinking that all was well now
But the sun begins to beat down, the heat makes me dizzy.
Searching for shade, I stumble on
He must think I am strong to have sent the sun in full force
But I can't keep going.
I cry out in a feeble voice, "Help me."
I sink down, falling to the ground, but the ground never comes.
I feel my comforter's arms around me
And He says, "Rest in me."
Perhaps, it's the rocks in the path that keep making you stumble and you seek a walking stick to steady you
Perhaps, the hill has been the hardest for you to conquer and you seek the hope of the peak
Perhaps, the storm has beat you down and you seek the shelter that will protect
Perhaps, it's the heat of the sun that has exhausted you and you seek relief in the shade of a tree.
But the help that comes is not as I expect.
It comes as a the constant voice saying, "Rest in me."
He was with me on the path, up the hill, through the storm, and under the sun.
He gave the hand to steady, the stream to encourage, and the cleft to hide in
But I never asked for Him to carry me.
