We are home from a week away in Southern California, where we took a collective deep breath on sand and shore and secret paths that eventually led to the same place: 2012.
The pause between calendar pages strengthened our family’s resolve to follow Jesus as unhesitatingly in 2012 as we tried to follow him in 2011, the courage for which Charles Spurgeon reminds us will come from Christ’s companionship:
“Wherever Jesus may lead us, He goes before us. If we know not where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the perils of the road? The journey may be long, but His everlasting arms will carry us to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation, because He lives, we shall live also.
Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, His purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our faces, His dear love will make us far more blest than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world’s fire…”
Precious Jesus, draw us, and we will run after thee.”