You are not alone, and your prayers won’t go unanswered. The answer will be time, gentle time.
From Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Raquel Franco is a Venezuelan-born poet who writes from her adopted state of Ohio in the United States.
From Jeremiah 29:13: “When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart.”
Journey of darkness
Chasing empty voice
Life without answers
Nothing to rejoice
Hearing God’s whisper
Revered voice speaks out
Lighting righteous path
Faith hungers to sprout
Now, wander no more
Embracing God’s voice
Past left in ashes
Trusting mercy’s choice
Walking in God’s light
Goodness from above
Accepting His grace
Faith’s heart beats with love
Life’s upright answers
Sharing each rejoice
Hope at last finds God
Following truth’s voice
From Psalm 18:28: “It is You who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.”
From James 1:5: “ If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”
Life’s distant horizon
Questions sometimes remain
Seeking direction from God
His Word opens wisdom’s lane
Tomorrow’s shadows wait
Doubts filling empty heart
Nourishing grace sustains faith
God’s wisdom offers fresh start
From waves of churning seas
Promised answers shall rise
Embracing God’s blessed love
Wisdom colors daily skies
More struggles shall arrive
Faith’s endurance shares light
Trusting to always just ask
God’s wisdom remaining bright
From the words of American Christian writer, John Eldredge: “Notice that we must ask. And we will sometimes struggle to hear and struggle with what we hear. But personally, it’s worth it. I’m after the path of life–and He alone knows it.”
From Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”
Darkness shields life’s guiding light
Causing worries to take flight
Life’s trials, too much to bear
Ask, who really seems to care?
World seems to be crashing down
Running dry, emptiness drowns
Words and actions, meek and weak
Ask, who shall one run to seek?
Vacant wilderness, so dark
Crying out, life’s question mark
Heart and soul, feeling hollow
Ask, what voice shall one follow?
Voice answers, restoring hopes
Searching from distant slopes
Good Shepherd, looking for one
Saving His flock, one by one
From John 10:14-16: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Originally published November, 2020.
Vastness of oceans deep
Swimming with endless wonders
Encouraging what world should keep
Heavens answer with thunder
Vastness of universe
Swimming with infinite stars
Encouraging nature’s free verse
Heavens address from afar
Vastness of instinct flows
Swimming to every shoreline
Encouraging children, let’s grow
Heavens praise learning’s outline
Vastness of human mind
Swimming toward tomorrow
Encouraging love, always kind
Heavens remove all sorrow
Vastness of creation
Swimming with unending light
Encouraging every nation
Heavens transform man’s foresight
Writing poetry allows the creator to take a theme and journey into the depth of its wonders.
From Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”
Life’s darkened landscape
Harvest empty of grain
Hope seems so distant
Forgotten in pain
Heart’s desolate scene
Hope’s answers in prayer
Now mercy arrives
Laden with love’s care
Family finds hope
Answers no longer wait
Body now healing
Doctor brings update
Scars from troubles heal
Set to travel hope’s road
Spirit strengthens heart
Faith harvests what’s sowed
Earth’s torrential flood
Faith anchored on firm ground
Noah’s dove soars free
Hope’s olive leaf found
From Genesis 8:10-11: “He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark, and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.”
There is nothing more difficult than to ask. We will long and desire and crave and suffer, but not until we are at the extreme limit will we ask.
From Luke 11:10: “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Questions arriving
Between shadows of light
Escaping darkness
Answers soon begin flight
Reflective life pause
Mind’s daily traffic slows
Seeking fresh outlook
Instincts shall always know
Sunrise opens mind
Passion finds virgin route
Learning through new ways
Destiny set to sprout
Moment of failure
Part of life’s faithful quest
Dusting off oneself
Set to taste tomorrow’s best
Life’s transforming guide
Opportunity talks
Jumping right onboard
Confidence leaves dry dock
From Psalm 34:4: “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
Climbing faith’s gentle mountain
Every step blessed by God
Praising Him at all times
Life’s outlook no longer flawed
Seeking Spirit’s faithful light
Answers received from God
Bringing righteousness home
Love shatters evil’s facade
Escaping tomorrow’s fears
Never alone with God
Trusting His sacred Word
Hope’s frozen landscape now thawed
Feelings of loneliness cease
Heart warmed with love of God
Saving self from darkness
Goodness walks upon fresh sod
Turning to heaven above
Eyes now focused on God
Hearing faithful Spirit
Redemption forever shod
Finding joy on His mountain
Peace fulfills hope in God
Walking amongst faith’s saints
Shepherd guides with staff and rod
From Psalm 34:22: “The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”
From Psalm 85:8-9: “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His faithful, to those who turn to Him in their hearts. Surely His salvation is at hand for those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.”
Uncertain darkness
Surrounds me this day
Humbly take a knee
Bowing now to pray
Prayers calling God
Remain unhurried
Unanswered questions
Never be worried
Christ’s teachings feed thee
With the bread of life
This eternal gift
Blessings without strife
Lord of life and love
He feeds and frees all
Through His Holy Word
Never builds a wall
Allow me to pause
God prods thee along
Hearing His questions
Answers make me strong
God everlasting
Faith remains with thee
Through life’s harsh chaos
Calming stormy seas
From Romans 10:10-13: “ For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
Originally published September, 2020.
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