The Twenties

Psalm 16: 7-11 NLT

 ⁷ I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
 ⁸ I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

 ⁹ No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.
 ¹⁰ For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
 ¹¹ You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

The decade of my twenties was a bit tumultuous.  I got married at twenty and finished college. I took a job in Houston and left Knoxville moving 950 miles from home.  We left a lot behind:  family, friends, church, and even my Tennessee twang (really - it used to be worse).   We struggled to make new friends as I worked too hard and left her alone too much.  We slept in on Sundays and made few common friends.  Eventually we divorced, and I looked for solace the only place I knew – the local church.  And I made more good friends – Dennis, Chuck, Linda, Bobby and others that I still love and stay in touch with.  I got to teach youth Sunday school and be part of some young lives.   I got to hold the guys back so the girls could get to the food at the fellowships.  I got asked “How far is too far?” every year.  I got to take high school guys to see wrestling matches (and while some think the action in the ring is scripted, I assure the fights among the crowd members is not).  We played softball and racquetball and I developed a real appreciation for Mexican food!.  It has been a blessing to reconnect with many of these youth with facebook and see how our Lord is using these “youth” in His service.  Gregg, Brian, Deanna, and Clay to name a few. 

And in the storms of the unpardonable sin of divorce and being nearly a thousand miles from home, He reached out to me. 

⁸ I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

I experienced Jesus always with me; right beside me.  I felt shaken, but He held me securely in His hand.  I began to comprehend the difference in happiness and joy.  Happiness was situation based and uncontrollable.  Joy from Christ is indwelling and sustaining.  I can choose to be joyful, no matter my situation.