When I told a friend about my dream, she was moved by what came out of it. “Why do you think God gave you that dream now?” she asked.

“That’s a very good question,” I said. We both knew it was a question I needed to ask God.

On a bike ride one afternoon, I put it to God. I had just written about the dream and it was fresh in my mind. How does this relate to what’s going on in my life?

I could identify a few times over the past week when I felt anxious about decisions, relationships or work that needed to be done. My anxiety wasn’t pervasive, nor did it last long, but it was there nonetheless. Little episodes of Godless dread.

That was it. God wanted to be in those moments too. I had minimized them and just got on with life until a sense of peace returned. Now I saw that those episodes are like the pebbles on the shore that God glistens and tugs home. Whatever I am going through–big or small–God wants to be there, sharing the weight, revealing the glory.

Reality seeps in: I don’t have to do anything alone. I can meet God—in the moment something happens, in the feelings that arise, in the facts that must be faced, in the grieving and rejoicing, and in the changes to be made.

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
— from St. Patrick’s Breastplate

Questions for your Lenten journey:

• Think back over the past few days. What disturbed you?
• Return to that moment with God. Can you talk to God about what happened. Notice how it is different now that you are not carrying that experience alone.
• What glory does God reveal?

Credits:
“Pebble Beach” by  Jørn Støylen. Used with permission.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2015.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013, 2014, 2015.  http://www.estherhizsa.wordpress.com.