Confidence Archives - Carmen Horne

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 ESV

This verse is preceded with what is often called “faith’s hall of fame” in chapter 11. The roll call of those mighty men and women of God who are now cheering us on as we run our race. If all of these heroes are in my cloud of witnesses, why couldn’t my loved ones that have gone before me be there as well?

“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.” MSG

Did you get that? Literally, my Mom and Dad, my grandparents, my father-in-law, other relatives, and dear friends could be cheering me on. Why not?

It reminds me of sitting at a ballgame. My team is tired and discouraged. Maybe they have made some mistakes that have cost them ground. The competition is intense. Bruised and sore they might feel as if they have disappointed their people.

What do I do? What do all those in the crowd do? We cheer. We cheer loud. If that player on the sidelines turns around and throws his hand up, we cheer louder. Our team needs to know that we are behind them. We love them. We infuse them with a bit of courage. Not only with courage but with the confidence that we are on their side. They have people and their people are there.

Every good play, we say “Do it again!” Every mistake we say, ” Shake it off. You will get it right next time!” Y’all, can we imagine our cloud, our crowd, our cheerleaders are doing the same for us? The revelation of this from the Holy Spirit to my spirit makes my heart smile. It makes me want to run hard and try my best.

It also makes me want to cry ’cause I miss my Mom, makes me smile ’cause that girl (Mom) who was my biggest cheerleader is still at it, and it makes me excited because my father-in-law, a writer himself, is cheering me on as I write.

Who would be in your cheering section? How does it make you feel to think that there is a delightful possibility that those you love and miss are still your biggest fans?

There are so many aspects of our spiritual lives where no details are given. I’m more curious these days. Looking a little deeper at life and the Bible also means that I’m trying harder to listen and hear God speaking to my heart. I know He speaks. I’m pretty sure the disconnect is on our end. Jesus said in Matthew 11:15 to listen up. I like the sound of it in the CEV, “If you have ears, pay attention!”

Lord, we trust You to speak to our hearts and reveal mysteries, in due time, that are hidden. We thank You for the assurance that our cloud of witnesses is cheering us on to run our race; the race you have set before us. Our personal path is full of possibility. We love you, too! In our dear Savior’s name, Jesus, Amen.

Linking up with Debbie Kitterman, Dare 2 Hear, today!

I was listening to a little Elvis Radio yesterday. Not very spiritual, I know. Although, he can belt out How Great Thou Art. He was singing the old Marty Robbins’ song, You Gave Me a Mountain,

But this time {Lord} you gave me a mountain
A mountain I may never climb
It isn’t a hill any longer
You gave me a mountain this time

As I listened, I thought about some mountains that I have had to climb. God has allowed some steep cliffs that I thought were too high. Scripture assures us that God never tempts us. He does test us. Y’all, those test though…

Then, I thought about you. I know some of you are climbing mountains. To others, they may seem like hills. You know different. They have you gasping for air.

The thing about climbing mountains (not that I have climbed any physical ones. Unless you count the hill on my road that feels like a mountain), it’s OK for us to stop and catch our breath. It’s even better when we are climbing with a buddy and they are cheering us on, or pushing our backside up when we want to sit down.

As your friend, I want to encourage you today. I can speak from experience.

I’m still here. You are too.

The mountains have been stinkin’ hard. They have made us sweat, cry, decide to quit, and questions God’s thought process. We have shared common emotions with King David:

I am worn out from sobbing.
All night I flood my bed with weeping,
drenching it with my tears.
My vision is blurred by grief (Psalm 6: 6-7 NLT)

Let me speak life over you. You are going to make it.

God will send enough manna each day for you to face the challenge before you. We don’t need to store up God’s grace and mercy. They are new every morning.

Your eyes might be red. Your tummy might be in knots. You might be all cried out…until you tune up again at the least little thing. You are going to be OK. As a wise woman once told me, “In six months this will all look different.” She was right. Perfect, no. Different, improving, manageable, increasing joy – yes.

Whatever you are facing, God has the answer. I would like to say the answer will be what you want and it will look like you want it to look. I can make no promises. Most of the time, my answers have come in unexpected ways. I can testify to this, God has always been faithful to me.

I’m still here. I didn’t fall off the cliff. I might have barely hung on, but that’s what counts, right? That we are still here.

God loves you. He has a good plan for you. You are His favorite kid.

Lord, we feel like our rope is frayed and we are hanging on by a thread. Will You hold us tight? Will You help us feel Your presence when all the other feels of life are weighing us down? Thank You for taking notice of our every tear. We claim David’s declaration in Psalm 6:9 as our own, “The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer.”

Who is in Your Cloud of Witnesses?

When Your Mountain Seems Too High